Engineering at University of Hartford

University of Hartford's engineering program sits in an unusual position: it ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally but the 60th percentile within Connecticut. This seemingly contradictory picture reflects Connecticut's relatively weak engineering outcomes overall—the state median for engineering graduates ($55,076) falls well below the national median ($67,911). In other words, this program is mediocre among mediocre company.

The debt load of $27,000 is reasonable, translating to a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio that shouldn't create financial hardship. Strong earnings growth—from $55,000 to over $80,000 by year four—suggests graduates gain traction after an admittedly slow start. However, the sample size here is quite small (under 30 graduates), meaning one or two outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly in either direction.

For a family considering this investment, the key question is whether your student has better options. If they're admitted to engineering programs at UConn or out-of-state schools with stronger national rankings, those alternatives likely offer better returns. But if University of Hartford represents the most realistic path to an engineering degree—perhaps due to admission chances or geographic constraints—the manageable debt and eventual earnings trajectory make it workable, not disastrous. Just recognize you're paying for access to the field rather than a competitive advantage within it.