2023 Best Undergraduate Business Schools in Connecticut

Published: September 1, 2022

By: Colleges of Distinction Staff

Jump to: Albertus Magnus College | Eastern Connecticut State University | Fairfield University | Sacred Heart University | University of Connecticut | University of Hartford | University of New Haven | Frequently Asked Questions

Every school on this list has already gotten our stamp of approval for the way they enrich every students’ education through the Four Distinctions. And with the addition of the business badge, you can be sure that these institutions offer hands-on business programs that produce experienced, responsible leaders for the booming corporate world.

We have thoroughly researched the business programs at these Connecticut Colleges of Distinction and verified that they exhibit all of the following characteristics:

• Multidisciplinary exposure across all aspects of business
• Real-world experience through internships and other forms of engagement with actual firms
• Industry connections that help students build their network and access to professional growth
• Business ethics that emphasize how a firm’s obligations extend beyond its shareholders
• Collaborative learning, in both business and general education courses, that stress the nuances of an efficient team
• Dedicated advisors and counselors who have a clear understanding of students’ academic and post-graduate milestones

Student success is the primary focus of our Colleges of Distinction, and these business degree-granting CoDs are no exception. With different types of business degrees to help students pursue their desired industry, the 2022-2023 Connecticut Business Colleges of Distinction provide a stable foundation for entrepreneurial minds.

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Albertus Magnus College

New Haven, CT ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year

Albertus Magnus College is a four-year, private, liberal arts, co-educational, degree-granting college offering undergraduate and graduate programs. It was founded in 1925 by the Dominican Sisters of St. Mary of the Springs, who are now known as the Dominican Sisters of Peace. Albertus was the first Catholic, liberal arts, residential college for women in New England. It has been co-educational since 1985.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
An Albertus education is about the pursuit of truth and the application of knowledge to the greater good. There is no doubt that students embrace and enact this mission every day! Albertus Magnus College s proud of its students’ accomplishments, hosting an annual Experiential Learning Day (ELD) to highlight their out-of-the-classroom successes in both curricular and co-curricular projects. Internships and practica; service-learning projects; research in the sciences, arts, and humanities; and student-run group and athletic activities are just a few outlets through which Albertus students make a difference and make an impact.

Acceptance rate 81%      •      Net price $27,492
Total Undergrad Population 1,088      •      Setting City: Midsize      •      Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 46%      •      Retention rate 72%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1

Click here for available majors

Business Majors Offered

Business Administration, Management and Operations
Accounting and Related Services
Business/Managerial Economics
Finance and Financial Management Services
Management Information Systems and Services

Eastern Connecticut State University

Willimantic, CT ‧ Public ‧ 4-year

Eastern Connecticut State University is the state’s designated public liberal arts university. A predominantly undergraduate institution, Eastern attracts and welcomes a diverse community of learners who are supported by a teaching faculty, staff, administrators, and a residential campus that promotes intellectual curiosity, integrity, and social responsibility.

Independent of their majors and career aspirations, all Eastern students take a common Liberal Arts core curriculum. This curriculum is sequenced and interdisciplinary, offering students a broad range of theoretical approaches in a variety of active learning settings to cultivate their knowledge and skills. Eastern’s programs prepare students for careers or advanced study while also providing them with the lifelong skills and confidence needed to succeed in a world of constant economic, social, and technological change.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
At Eastern, students of all majors and class levels conduct research. As undergraduates, their high-quality work is published in academic journals and presented at local and national conferences—from Eastern’s own CREATE conference to the respected Posters on the Hill and National Conference on Undergraduate Research. Students’ research earns them awards, helps them obtain competitive internships, and admits them into prestigious graduate schools. With fellowships, project grants, faculty mentorships, connections to research conferences, and extensive laboratory space on campus, Eastern is a comprehensive school for undergraduate research.

Acceptance rate 70%      •      Net price $19,090
Total Undergrad Population 4,475      •      Setting Town      •      Public 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 56%      •      Retention rate 76%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1

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Fairfield University

Fairfield, CT ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year

Established in 1942 with roots in one of the modern world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions, Fairfield University is a leading Catholic, Jesuit University.

Committed to the Jesuit ideals of broad intellectual inquiry, Fairfield University fosters a strong sense of community among its students and offers an educational experience that encourages the pursuit of social justice and the cultivation of the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.

LIVING-LEARNING COMMUNITIES
Living-Learning Communities (LLCs) are available for undergraduates to further immerse themselves in a transformative Fairfield University culture. These residence communities create a multicultural atmosphere that builds on the University’s strategic vision of integrated learning through a variety of community housing programs. While each residential college has a particular focus, involved students are diverse in life experiences, hopes, desires, and interests. All residential colleges consider the question of vocation, engaging students to create meaningful experiences.

Acceptance rate 56%      •      Net price $43,173      •      SAT Range 1190-1340      •      Students submitting SAT scores 50%
Total Undergrad Population 4,354      •      Setting Suburb      •      Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 82%      •      Retention rate 92%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 12:1

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Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT ‧ Catholic ‧ 4-year

Distinguished by the personal attention it provides its students, Sacred Heart University (SHU) is recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, an award-winning advisement program, cutting-edge technology, championship Division I athletic teams, and nationally recognized community service programs. Situated in Fairfield, Connecticut, the main campus is ideally located one hour north of New York City and two and a half hours south of Boston. The surrounding neighborhood of Fairfield has its own charm as well; in addition to SHU’s 18-hole golf course a mere 15 minutes away from the main campus, students enjoy the city’s five miles of shoreline, marinas, parks, open space and plenty of shopping and fine dining. 

Undergraduate students study at SHU’s international campuses in Dingle, Ireland, and Luxembourg. On the main campus, new, world-class academic facilities include the Frank and Marisa Martire Center for Liberal Arts, the Center for Healthcare Education, and West Campus, former home to General Electric’s world headquarters. West Campus houses an engineering IDEA Lab or makerspace, an artificial intelligence lab, an iHub powered by Verizon, a virtual reality lab, incubator space for student-entrepreneurs and other innovation-focused learning spaces.

With nearly 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in over 80 academic programs, this dynamic university is an innovative presence within Catholic higher education. Its campus includes such new residence halls as the Upper Quad, which is located near the JP’s Diner dining hall, as well as the Bobby Valentine Health & Recreation Center, which features a climbing wall and bowling alley. 

Acceptance rate 66%      •      Net price $43,313 
Total Undergrad Population 6,417      •      Setting Suburb      •      Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 73%      •      Retention rate 87%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 14:1

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University of Hartford

West Hartford, CT ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

Spread across seven dynamic schools and colleges, the University of Hartford has been guiding the purpose and passion of students for over six decades. On the 350-acre campus alongside Connecticut’s capital city, approximately 4,600 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students representing 49 states and 47 countries come together for a common purpose: to collaborate across different disciplines, diversify perspectives, and broaden world-views. Hartford is a four-year private university focused on advancing the public good through meaningful connections within our communities. Hartford’s unique approach to comprehensive education gives them the critical perspectives that lead to impactful change, regionally and beyond. With degree programs spanning the arts, humanities, business, engineering and technology, education, and health professions, Hartford focuses on doing the work that matters.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES
The University of Hartford community is charged with activity, buzzing with clubs, student government, community service, and so many more experiences to enrich their college journey. With over 100 organizations to choose from, UHart students are both inspired and encouraged to explore their interests and discover new passions.

Acceptance rate 77%      •      Net price $28,692      •      SAT Range 1020-1210      •      Students submitting SAT scores 72%
Total Undergrad Population 4,521      •      Setting City: Midsize      •      Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 57%      •      Retention rate 81%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 8:1

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University of New Haven

West Haven, CT ‧ Private ‧ 4-year

At the University of New Haven, the experience of learning is both personal and pragmatic, guided by distinguished faculty who care deeply about individual student success. As leaders in their fields, faculty provide the inspiration and recognition needed for students to fulfill their potential and succeed at whatever they choose to do.

STUDENT ACADEMIC SPONSORED RESEARCH
The University promotes collaborative research among small groups of students or between students and faculty. Students receive valuable exposure to academic and professional circles by presenting their research at conferences and workshops held by recognized associations.

SCHOOL LOCATION
Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered on the University’s main campus located on 82 acres in suburban West Haven, Connecticut (between Boston and New York), as well as at a variety of off-campus sites. Downtown New Haven, with plenty of cultural and entertainment activities in the immediate area, is only 10 minutes away. And only 5 minutes away is the West Haven Beach area, the longest shoreline area in Connecticut.

Acceptance rate 91%      •      Net price $35,395      •      SAT Range 1050-1220      •      Students submitting SAT scores 68%
Total Undergrad Population 5,097      •      Setting Suburb      •      Private 4-year
Graduation rate (6 year) 64%      •      Retention rate 79%      •      Student-to-faculty ratio 18:1

Click here for available majors

What it’s like to attend business schools in Connecticut and other FAQ: