University of Hartford
Locations: Hartford, CT
Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorates
Programs: Cinema, Audio Engineering Technology, Visual Communications, Philosophy, Civil Engineering and many others (over 110 total)
Tuition Range: $29,440 per year
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Located in Hartford, CT, the University of Hartford is a relatively small to mid-size institution, hosting an annual enrollment of about 7400 students. However, the school features over 110 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of areas, including Engineering, Economics, Music, Art and others. Of particular interest is several music industry related bachelor’s degree programs, which are offered as a collaboration between the Music and Engineering schools–among them, Audio Engineering Technology, Acoustical Engineering and Music, and Music Production/Technology. The school also offers other media and arts-related programs, such as Cinema, Media Arts, Music Management, Performing Arts Management, and Visual Communications.
With all the media related programs available, the University of Hartford is still structured as a traditional academic institution, requiring a 4-year commitment for a bachelor’s degree. Tuition leans toward the high end of the spectrum; expect to pay nearly $30,000 per year, not including room, board and fees.
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Student Reviews
Located in Hartford, CT, the University of Hartford is a relatively small to mid-size institution, hosting an annual enrollment of about 7400 students. However, the school features over 110 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in a wide range of areas, including Engineering, Economics, Music, Art and others. Of particular interest is several music industry related [...]
Review by Krisanne B.
(source)
December 22, 2011 4Of all the courses I took at the University of Hartford, the ones that always stood out to me were the ones taken at the Hartt School. Being that Hartt is a performing arts conservatory, off the bat you can expect some serious characters for professors. However, it wasn’t just the disposition of the professors that I enjoyed. Whether I was attending a class on sound technology or nonprofit arts, I could always expect to have an active class environment. There was a constant energy of discussion and open exchange of knowledge in these classes, often encouraged by the style of the professors and carried on by the strong opinions of the students. If you are interested in a vibrant education, I suggest interacting withfthe Hartt School’s faculty.
The University of Hartford is situated in the four season friendly state of Connecticut, meaning you can expect the pleasant as well as the unpleasant. The campus is beautiful in the fall and spring, which comprises a majority of the school year so you can look forward to these seasons. However, winter can be biting and when it rains, trust me, it pours. And when it pours there is some serious flooding on campus that can often leave you rerouting your trip from dorm to class. However, the campus really inst all that large so the walk is never that bad and, in the worst case scenario, the campus shuttle is available to get you where you need to be without getting drenched or freezing in the process.
If you plan on going anywhere off campus at the University of Hartford, make sure you arrive on campus with a car. While there are city buses that make stops at the campus, I wouldn’t advise on relying on them for any sort of serious transportation. Most of the areas around the University that would be enjoyed by a prospective student are better accessed by car. As far as getting around on campus, nothing is so far that a vehicle is required, but if necessary the campus shuttle will get you where you need to go. Just be sure to get a grip on its running schedule to keep yourself on time.
There are definitely two different types of party environments at the University of Hartford and they cater to two very different types of people. If your’e on campus and looking to party, you’re going to find yourself in a greek life situation. While there are smaller, less keg infested parties to be found n campus, the majority are related to greek life in some way and follow the typical patterns you would expect from such a scene. If you are looking for something with a little more music, a little more discussion, and alot more dancing try and meet some kids who live off campus and get into their party atmosphere. There are a lot of students who make their way off camps as early as sophomore year and live without the hassle of on campus law and dorm restriction, making for a much more party friendly environment.
Review by John Y.
December 22, 2011 1“Would you like some stress with your stress?” – How the University of Hartford excels at not caring for its students’ needs
If you don’t enjoy feeling as though you’re a rat stuck in a snake tank, I would recommend getting your transfer applications ready NOW. There is a menagerie of major problems with the University of Hartford’s academia both administratively and pedagogically with a lack of sympathy for the individual’s needs thereof.
But let’s start with something positive about the University, shall we? The Admission’s Office is probably the only office on campus that has given me little grief of any sort throughout my two-and-a half years here. But then, how could an office responsible for raking in its students’ money be bad at its job and still keep this private institution alive? I digress, the freshman application process is very easy and so is applying for classes there on out. I would give the Office of Admissions here a B-, which is an over all grade shaded by a different but subtly related administrative complication – Faculty Advisors.
Dealing with your Faculty Advisor is one of the most teeth-pulling, hair-tearing, gut-wrenching experiences you will have at the University of Hartford. Though I can only speak personally for the English department, I have heard similar commentary from a wide array of students from varying departments. The problem is not a lack of an advisor’s competence; most of the professors here are actually highly renowned, decorated individuals within their respective fields. The problem then is their lack of interest in their advisee’s needs and desires. Frankly put, they don’t give a ’hoot.’ When it comes to advising their assigned students, advisors are instructed to do one thing and one thing well: to get their students out of the school with some form of degree or certification in hand in four years or less. Some advisors don’t even do this single task well. I have personally had my academic records misplaced and found them un-updated. I had a close friend who thought she was graduating in the spring end up having to stay another full term; her advisor did not notify her which undergraduate bulletin of guidelines she was supposed to be following and which classes were counted towards her major. I would give this school’s faculty advisors, for the most part, a D.
Non-advisor professors in and of themselves are strenuous to tangle with. Of the twenty or so courses I have taken here, I can count on just one hand how many professors I’ve enjoyed being instructed by. I can vouch for this much – the more you enjoy the class, the better your grade will be. Unfortunately, in this school, classes are mostly a bore. All material is more lecture-based than really necessary, even the Creative Writing and Art School courses. Another problem with professors is their tendency to not inform their students of assignments due. True, you are given (or should be given) a syllabus at the commencement of every course. However, professors here have a bad habit of not informing you when they change something on said syllabus.
Coursework aside, there is an even bigger more pressing issue I’ve had with professors. This issue is about them not accepting medical absences. I’ve always struggled a bit with my health, and coming to a school that does not accept medical documentation is a problem. I have had documents coming out of my ears stating that I had to be absent, and I was still reprimanded for not handing in work. Another close friend of mine wanted to take an ‘Incomplete’ for a class because one of her roommates had tried to commit suicide. The professor who taught her course refused to consent to this medical leave and dropped her final grade from an A- to a D.
I could keep going on, but I think anyone who has read this will get the picture by now. This school is not helpful, and you will worry more about a ridiculous staff than you will about what or how much you’ve learned. Save yourself the stress-test, and don’t come here. That’s why I’m transferring.
Debt Accrued: $25,001 - $50,000
Review by Bridget E.
October 8, 2011 1This school SUCKS. The only good thing about this school are the professors. THATS IT. the professors ive had are amazing they help you out a lot, the classes arent hard atleast the ones ive taken and im in my first semester of sophmore year and im transferring out of here. All everyone does is party. thats it. everyone here is dumb and immature. public safety is the biggest joke,the campus is wide open for anyone from downtown hartford(which is very unsafe) to come strolling onto the campus. We get crime alerts almost every week of an armed robbery or someone going into someones room whos door was unlocked. ITS AWFUL. the parking pass is 500 dollars to park like a mile away from where you live. the living spaces are DISGUSTING. i cant even explain how HORRIBLE they are. If your not in greek life or play a sport plan to do nothing. Commuting wouldn’t be that bad but i would still have a hard time connecting with people since everyone is rich as hell and drives mercedes and bmw’s. this school is outrageoulsy priced at 48,000 a year AND THEY GIVE YOU ZERO FINANCIAL AID. ITS HORRIBLE. if you wanna pay 48k a year to party, youll love it.
Debt Accrued: Greater than $50,000
Review by Ahmad G.
August 28, 2011 5It’s an amazing school that makes you feel welcomed, and very easy to get around.
Review by Clarissa D.
July 26, 2011 4.5The only people that complain about the social life at this school are the people that sit alone in their dorm rooms waiting for something exciting to knock on their door. Sorry but like any school, if you want to make friends and have a social life, you need to put yourself out there and get to know people. Invest some time in one of the many clubs and activites the school has to offer. Yes there are a lot of great parties, the bars and clubs are fun and easy to get in to. But if that’s not your scene there is something for everyone. They have open mic nights, local band performances, karaoke nights, musical theatre, a variety of singing groups and programs,ski and snowboard clubs, and much more. Like at any school, there are snotty rich brats at this school, but there are also some really down to earth wonderful people that are more than willing to get to know you. No you are not going to get 5 star gourmet food, but they have the BEST burgers and pitas I have ever tasted available in the student union. There is also late night taco bell and deli sandwiches and the the market has everything you could ever need. And no the dorms are not equivalent to the rooms in a Hilton hotel, but they are decent sized and they are kept clean by the weekly cleaning service that comes through. Academically, I guess you can say the professors and classes aren’t “challenging” because they don’t overwhelm you with busy work and crazy assignments. Instead they take the time to explain and make sure you understand the material in a way that you will remember. The classes are engaging and interesting instead overly intellectual and boring. The campus is very safe with public safety officers scattering the campus 24/7, video surveillance, and a 24/7 bus service that will take you around campus. The only negative things I have to say about The University of Hartford are that they need to get rid of Hillyer College because that is what brings in all the idiots that make you wonder how they were ever accepted to college (Hillyer is the community college that is on campus, when you don’t get accepted to UHART they can apply to Hillyer which like any community college all it takes to get in is a high school diploma), and also they will lure you in with lots of financial aid for your first year then they will take it away once you love the school. But this school has an excellent academic reputation and as long as they don’t take away my financial aid, because the school is VERY expensive, I will be be here for a long time with no regrets.
Review by Linda T.
April 17, 2011 3I was very excited to attend the University of Hartford. It ended up being a difficult four years, both socially and academically. The school experience for most students seemed to be about constant partying, and that’s just not me. The faculty, except for one or two professors, were quite negative and harsh. If you are considering attending this university, I would strongly suggest visiting the university more than once. You should really take the time to investigate the atmosphere on campus. Hopefully, things have improved since I attended there.
Review by Erick H.
November 24, 2010 1If I could give UHa zero stars, I would. I graduated from two different programs in two different schools, and while I had a positive experience in one, the other was downright detestable. Now if I’d only realized this sooner.
My first mistake was attending their Audio Engineering Technology program, which is basically a joke. Rather than preparing students for careers in audio engineering, the coursework provided me with the skills necessary to repair broken equipment. Had the school been up front about this in the beginning, I would have gone elsewhere, but instead I was assured that attending and graduating from this program would lead to a career in the audio engineering industry. When I secured an internship at National Public Radio, the overall deficiency of my education became overwhelmingly clear. Recognizing that this Bachelors of Science was nothing more than BS, I applied to the University’s graduate Accounting & Taxation program, was accepted, and started the day after my undergraduate graduation.
Immediately, the disparity between schools within the University was apparent. The professors in the Barney School of Business had, for the most part, come from industry and therefore had useful experiences to share. Some had held significant positions within the finance, accounting, and insurance industries and could use these to impart meaning to their courses. The school’s accelerated Masters of Science in Accounting & Taxation (MSAT) prepared me, in just one year, for a career in accounting and the school’s career fair led to two job offers. This stood in stark contrast to the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture’s career placement services, which were essentially nonexistent.
Beyond the disparate academic quality, the rest of the University is both unremarkable and disappointing. There is little in the way of residential life outside of drinking and drugs. The campus empties out on many weekends as students return home. The nearby city of Hartford provides little in the way of activities, further isolating this campus. Dormitories are badly in need of demolition and reconstruction. There is only one worthwhile dining hall on campus, which is only open on weekdays. The on-campus convenience store is astronomically overpriced. The balance of campus facilities are dated, greatly impairing their usefulness.
My final complaint about this institution is its cost. For the quality of the majority of its programs (the Hartt School excluded), $38,000 per year cannot be justified.
Debt Accrued: Greater than $50,000
Found work after graduation? No
Review by Eric G.
February 3, 2009 5Small, private, solid, pricey
The quality of academics varies from school to school. One of the strongest colleges is the Hartt School of Music, Dance and Theater. They have a excellent and well-deserved reputation in the music world.
Student life is mixed. First the cons-
- A LOT of people leave on the weekends. It’s a little bit of a suitcase campus with a lot of students from CT, MA, NY, NJ, RI. There’s a lot of rich kids and they all have cars, so the place can empty out leaving you with nothing to do on a Friday night.
- Student body. Hard to pin down the percentage, but there are quite a few rich kids that daddy forced into college. They’re just there to drink and smoke. You can mostly avoid them by taking morning classes and going to the library or the gym.
Pros
- The main campus is self-contained. Look at USC, Cal, or anything in Boston and you’ve got bums and other lowlife wandering through campus. UHA isn’t crime free, but it’s completely surrounded by woods, a river, and a huge fence. Strangers stick out.
- It’s a small school. You can get to know people. It’s nice to recognize faces. Office hours for faculty don’t have a line a mile long. Not too many classes taught by TAs or GSIs.
- No football team.
- Fun Stuff. If you work at it, there are enough student life activities, scavenger hunts, TAG games, movies, concerts, plays, elective classes, and sports events that you can keep busy. My personal favorite was crashing donor benefit dinners. Free food and entertainment.
THE FOOD
I used to be a tour guide and the #1 question was “How is the food?”
My answers depended on the kind of people on the tour. Sometimes I’d come back with- How good of a cook is your Mom?
The real answer is that U-HA has so many different choices you really can’t go wrong. Maybe you were the kid who only ate frozen pizza, McDs, and hotdogs, or the adventurous one who doesn’t want to eat the same thing twice. And for everyone in between there is something for you. They have
a pizza and burger grill, a traditional food steamtable line, and a sandwich bar. You really can’t screw up a ham and cheese sandwich.
The dorms are a mixed bag. Some of the brick and mortar buildings are a little rough, but liveable. I liked that they had a designated quiet dorm.
No doubt there have been some changes since I graduated. Recently they’ve made their phys plant a lot more environmentally friendly for example.
Check em out. Save your pennies.
Found work after graduation? Yes