The small state of Connecticut was home to more than 3.5 million people in 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. A high number of these have a postsecondary education, counting residents aged 25 and over. The U.S. average for persons holding bachelor's degrees or higher was 27.5 percent in 2009, but in Connecticut that number reached 35.1 percent, suggesting the importance of education in a competitive job market.

From the placid coast of Long Island Sound to the expanses of woodland upstate, Connecticut has no shortage of natural views and great locations for hiking, biking and photography. More than two-thirds of state residents make their homes in thriving metropolitan cities like Hartford, Stamford and New Haven. Aspiring nurses shouldn't hesitate to look into campus-based and online nursing schools in Connecticut.

Why choose online nursing schools in Connecticut?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that registered nurses in the state earned a higher mean annual wage, compared to salaries for these professionals nationally. Here's a short list of careers available to nursing graduates, alongside mean annual salary data for the state gathered by the BLS:

1. Nursing instructors at the postsecondary level: $75,820 in 2010, up from $73,820 in 2009
2. RNs: $73,860 in 2010, up from $71,930 in 2009
3. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses: $53,280 in 2010, up from $52,300 in 2009

Connecticut nursing schools, online or campus-based

Distance learning programs from Connecticut nursing schools online allow individuals to shape their education around their current schedule, balancing studies with work and family responsibilities. For example, Southern Connecticut State University offers a hybrid Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that uses a mixture of campus-based and virtual classrooms. Some schools may offer BA-BSN or LPN-RN programs that exist fully online.