CCSU Among Connecticut Colleges Scoring High on research.com Rankings; Yale, UConn, Southern Lead the List

Central Connecticut State University made a strong showing on Research.com’s 2026 Best Colleges in Connecticut rankings, earning two first-place distinctions and outperforming many peer institutions statewide and nationally.

Central ranked #263 out of 1,651 colleges and universities nationwide, placing ahead of 15 other Connecticut institutions in the national results. On the state level, Central secured two top spots: #1 Most Affordable College in Connecticut and #1 Best Value College in Connecticut, among 15 institutions ranked.

On the Best Colleges in Connecticut list, Central claimed the #4 spot among 19 ranked institutions,

The ranking of the 19 Connecticut institutions are: 1. Yale Univeristy, 2. University of Connecticut, 3. Southern Connecticut State University, 4. Central Connecticut State University, 5. Eastern Connecticut State University, 6. Trinity College, 7. Mitchell College, 8. Quinnipiac University, 9. University of Bridgeport, 10. Fairfield university, 11. Sacred Heart University, 12. Albertus Magnus College, 13. University of Hartford, 14. Weslyan University, 15. University of New Haven, 16. Connecticut College, 17. University of Saint Joseph, 18. Western Connecticut State University, 19 Goodwin University.

The rankings highlight the institution’s academic strength, accessibility, and long-standing commitment to student success.

“These rankings affirm what our students, faculty, and alumni already know,” said Central Connecticut State University President Zulma R. Toro. “Central delivers an accessible, high-quality education that equips students to thrive in their careers and to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Being recognized for both affordability and value reinforces our mission to provide opportunity without compromise.”

The five most popular degrees in Connecticut, across higher education according to the research.com analysis, are business administration, psychology, computer science, counseling, and nursing.

The top five most affordable colleges - and the best value - are Central, Southern, Eastern, UConn and University of Bridgeport.

Nationally, the Best Colleges list is led by Caltech, MIT, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford. Yale is #7. UConn is #94. Southern is #256. Central ranked #263 nationally.

An online data-driven resource for students, Research.com employs machine learning algorithms and big data analytics to compile its rankings. The platform considers academic excellence, breadth of degree programs, affordability, and return on investment as key indicators of institutional quality. Its 2026 methodology incorporates the Entropy method, a scientifically validated approach from Decision Making Theory that reduces bias by optimizing category weights. Data sources include the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Peterson’s database, and OpenAlex, with more than 6,000 institutions analyzed.

IPEDS, maintained by the U.S. Department of Education, is a comprehensive collection of annual surveys gathering detailed information from every institution participating in federal student financial aid programs.