Charter Oak State College is a public online college in New Britain, Connecticut, founded in 1973 by the Connecticut Legislature and part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Its pros are low public tuition, accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) since 1981, flexible ways to earn credit (including credit for life experience) and programs designed for adults. Its cons are that it is almost entirely an undergraduate degree-completion college for adults, with limited graduate options and no campus life.
Here are the pros and cons in detail, using the federal College Navigator database and published information about the college.
Charter Oak State College at a Glance
- Type: 4-year, public; all programs offered completely through distance education.
- Location: New Britain, Connecticut.
- Founded: 1973 by the Connecticut Legislature.
- Degrees: certificates, associate, bachelor’s and, since 2015, master’s degrees.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 2,012 students, 1,927 undergraduate and 85 graduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 15 to 1.
Pros: What Charter Oak State College Does Well
- Low tuition. Undergraduate tuition and fees were $8,506 in 2024-2025, well below most private online colleges.
- Long-standing regional accreditation. Charter Oak has been accredited by NECHE since 1981, and its baccalaureate nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
- Built for adults finishing a degree. The college mainly serves adults, including military members, federal and state employees and working adults pursuing first or second degrees.
- Many ways to earn credit. College Navigator lists credit for life experiences among accepted credit types, and 593 of its fall 2024 undergraduates were transfer-in students.
- Public and state-backed. It operates under the degree-granting authority of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.
- Low loan default rate. The three-year cohort default rate was 1.2% for fiscal year 2019 and 0.0% for 2020 and 2021.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Charter Oak State College
- Not built for a traditional first year. The college mainly serves adults, many of whom transfer in previous credit, so it is not designed around recent high school graduates.
- Limited graduate programs. Only 85 graduate students were enrolled in fall 2024, and master’s degrees have been offered only since 2015.
- No campus life. There is no campus housing, and everything is online.
- Small institution. With about 2,000 students, majors and course choices are narrower than at large online universities.
What Charter Oak State College Costs
Undergraduate tuition and fees were $8,506 in 2024-2025, and average graduate tuition was $9,522 plus $830 in fees. The average net price for full-time beginning students who paid in-state tuition was $15,815 in 2023-2024 (this figure includes estimated living costs). Eligible students may receive Pell Grants and federal Direct Loans.
Is Charter Oak State College a Good School? What the Numbers Say
For adults who already have college credit and want to finish a bachelor’s degree online at public-college prices, Charter Oak is a strong, legitimate option with decades of regional accreditation. It is a weaker fit for first-time students who want a traditional college experience or a wide range of graduate programs.
Who Accredits Charter Oak State College?
Charter Oak is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the regional accreditor for New England colleges, and College Navigator lists the accreditation as active since October 1981 with a next review in June 2027. Its baccalaureate nursing program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education since 2020. Before 2012, degrees were granted through the Board for State Academic Awards; since then the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education has been its governing body.
Who Charter Oak Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
Charter Oak is designed for adults who have earned credit at other colleges or through life experience and want to turn it into a degree without relocating or paying private-college prices. The General Studies bachelor’s degree, with a wide choice of concentrations, is especially useful for people with credits from several places. Students who want a full residential college experience, a large graduate school or highly specialized majors should look elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charter Oak State College accredited?
Yes, by the New England Commission of Higher Education, since 1981.
Is Charter Oak State College a real college?
Yes. It is a public college in Connecticut’s state system, founded in 1973, and it has awarded over 19,000 degrees.
Is Charter Oak fully online?
Yes. College Navigator lists all of its programs as offered completely through distance education.