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St Joseph Church, Bristol CTPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Bristol

Central Connecticut State University is 9 miles from Bristol

No college sits inside Bristol’s boundary, but Central Connecticut State University’s campus in New Britain, with 9,333 students on campus, is 9 miles from the center of town, and Connecticut State Community College is 15.1 miles away in New Britain. About 6% of Bristol’s residents are enrolled in college, below Connecticut (7%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Bristol. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
7
21,467 students on campus
Nearest college
9 mi
Central Connecticut State
Residents in college
6%
Below CT (7%)
Nearest community college
15.1 mi
Connecticut State · $5,338 tuition
Nearest public university
9 mi
Central Connecticut State · $13,050 in-state
Median household income
$79K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Bristol

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A university 9 miles awayCentral Connecticut State University has 9,333 students on campus in New Britain, 48% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Central Connecticut StateLiving in Connecticut, Central Connecticut State University charges $13,050 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $16,550. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 15.1 miles awayConnecticut State Community College in New Britain: tuition and fees $5,338 a year for Connecticut residents.Students are 6% of residentsBelow Connecticut (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Bristol

Four private colleges within 14.2 miles, and three public colleges within 14.9 miles.

5 mi10 mi15 miCentral Connecticut StateUniversity of HartfordTrinity CollegeBristol
University or collegeCommunity college
Central Connecticut State UniversityUniversity or college · Public · 9,333 on campus · 9 mi · New Britain73%admitted$17knet price48%graduate$59kearningsUniversity of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusUniversity or college · Public · 745 on campus · 10.1 mi · Waterbury87%admitted$11knet price53%graduate$74kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.Post UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,212 on campus · 12.4 mi · Waterbury · mostly online$22knet price25%graduate$39kearnings94% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.University of Saint JosephUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,580 on campus · 12.9 mi · West Hartford79%admitted$28knet price64%graduate$60kearningsTrinity CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,276 on campus · 13.7 mi · Hartford29%admitted$35knet price84%graduate$91kearningsUniversity of HartfordUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,838 on campus · 14.2 mi · West Hartford96%admitted$30knet price54%graduate$61kearningsUniversity of Connecticut-Hartford CampusUniversity or college · Public · 1,483 on campus · 14.9 mi · Hartford88%admitted$16knet price65%graduate$74kearningsEarnings are reported for all 5 campuses that file with it.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Bristol’s median household income ($79,076) falls.

University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus10.1 mi · Waterbury · sticker $22,933$15,621a year
Post University12.4 mi · Waterbury · mostly online · sticker $28,897$16,362a year
Central Connecticut State University9 mi · New Britain · sticker $24,870$18,336a year
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus14.9 mi · Hartford · sticker $26,946$19,306a year
Trinity College13.7 mi · Hartford · sticker $87,840$24,369a year
University of Saint Joseph12.9 mi · West Hartford · sticker $59,900$27,701a year
University of Hartford14.2 mi · West Hartford · sticker $64,729$30,956a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Bristol: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Central Connecticut StatePost UniversityUniversity of Saint JosephTrinity CollegeUniversity of HartfordUniversity of Connecticut-Hartford Campus
Central Connecticut State University48% graduate$59k earnings$22k typical debt
University of Hartford54% graduate$61k earnings$27k typical debt
Trinity College84% graduate$91k earnings$23k typical debt
University of Saint Joseph64% graduate$60k earnings$27k typical debt
University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus65% graduate$74k earnings*$22k typical debt
Post University25% graduate$39k earnings$30k typical debt
University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus53% graduate$74k earnings*$22k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus (5); University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus (5).

Questions about college near Bristol

Is Bristol a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Bristol residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Connecticut (7). The nearest campus, Central Connecticut State University, is 9 miles away in New Britain.

What colleges are near Bristol?

7 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Central Connecticut State University (9 miles, 9,333 students on campus), the University of Hartford (14.2 miles, 4,838) and Trinity College (13.7 miles, 2,276).

What is the closest community college to Bristol, and what does it cost?

Connecticut State Community College in New Britain, 15.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,338 a year for Connecticut residents; the federal net price, $11,513, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Central Connecticut State University cost if we live in Connecticut?

Tuition and fees are $13,050 a year in-state and $16,550 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $13,589 (under $30,000 income) to $21,562 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Bristol. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →