Accounting Degree Programs in Hartford, CT (2026)

Quick answer: Accountants and Auditors in the Hartford area earn a median $95,940 per year, above the national median of $83,680, and the metro employs about 6,780 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Accounting Pay in Hartford, CT

MetricHartford metroConnecticutNational
Median annual wage$95,940$97,550$83,680
10th percentile$63,830$64,230$56,020
25th percentile$78,050$78,020$67,020
75th percentile$115,390$123,670$109,810
90th percentile$134,970$156,670$144,090
Employment6,78016,7701,449,500
Location quotient1.21-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Hartford median of $95,940 is above the national median of $83,680, and below the Connecticut statewide median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 1.21 means accountants and auditors are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Accounting employment follows the local concentration of corporate headquarters, public accounting firms and government offices.

Other Connecticut Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Bridgeport$102,0205,000
New Haven$94,9602,000
Waterbury$93,0101,230
Norwich$82,530740

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Accounting work does not require a license, but the CPA credential does: it is issued by a state board of accountancy, and the Uniform CPA Examination is administered through AICPA and NASBA. The education requirement commonly exceeds what a bachelor’s degree alone provides, and the exact rule is set by each state board and has been changing. Business programs may be accredited by AACSB, ACBSP or IACBE.

See the Connecticut licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state board of accountancy.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How We Rank Schools

We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%

Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Charter Oak State College

New Britain, CT 8.5 miles away BOC Score 69.7
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Key stats
  • Programs offered: 18
  • Annual completions: 104
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $62,128 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT 6.6 miles away BOC Score 63.7
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 48.9% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 35
  • Annual completions: 384
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $67,245 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#3

University of Saint Joseph

West Hartford, CT 2.8 miles away BOC Score 60.9
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 66.0% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 17
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $73,035 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#4

University of Hartford

West Hartford, CT 2.8 miles away BOC Score 58.1
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 56.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 203
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $69,078 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#5

Goodwin University

East Hartford, CT 2.4 miles away BOC Score 57.9
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 58.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 20
  • Annual completions: 349
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $72,845 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#7

Connecticut State Community College

New Britain, CT 0.6 miles away BOC Score 47.6
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 21.4% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 116
  • Annual completions: 2580
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $50,130 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#8

Cortiva Institute

Cromwell, CT 11.1 miles away BOC Score 40.8
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 81.8% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 2
  • Annual completions: 254
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $32,856 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#9

Lincoln Technical Institute-New Britain

New Britain, CT 8.2 miles away BOC Score 37.6
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 59.5% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 8
  • Annual completions: 765
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,136 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#10

American Institute-West Hartford

West Hartford, CT 3.4 miles away BOC Score 33.2
Tuition Contact school for pricing
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Key stats
  • Completion rate: 56.2% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 11
  • Annual completions: 339
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $36,918 (College Scorecard)

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do accountants and auditors make in Hartford?

The median annual wage for accountants and auditors in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area is $95,940, above the national median of $83,680 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many accountants and auditors work in the Hartford area?

The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT metro area employs about 6,780 accountants and auditors (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do accountants and auditors in Hartford need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Accounting work does not require a license, but the CPA credential does: it is issued by a state board of accountancy, and the Uniform CPA Examination is administered through AICPA and NASBA. The education requirement commonly exceeds what a bachelor's degree alone provides, and the exact rule is set by each state board and has been changing. Business programs may be accredited by AACSB, ACBSP or IACBE. Confirm current requirements with your state board of accountancy.

Can I study accounting online from Hartford?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state board of accountancy.

Is Hartford a better market than the rest of Connecticut?

The Hartford metro median is $95,940 against a statewide median of $97,550 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Accountants and Auditors (SOC 13-2011), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.