Why This Matters

  • 14 COLLEGES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

    New Hampshire is home to 14 colleges that offer bachelor’s degrees. They include five public colleges and nine private non-profit schools.

  • $17,040 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    According to College Board, these numbers are based on the 2021-22 academic year.

  • $14,800 FINANCIAL AID PER U.S. STUDENT

    Many U.S. students receive thousands of dollars in financial aid for their undergraduate education. The average award amount is $14,800.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar schools in New Hampshire. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality for post-secondary institutions. We included liberal arts colleges and research universities as well as small, midsize, and large institutions. Next, we compared this comprehensive list to a list of aggregated college rankings from reputable publications like the U.S. News & World Report among others to simplify a student’s college search. We pored through these rankings so students don’t have to.

The colleges on our list are accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a reputable organization that examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of education programs in the northeastern United States.

We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for on-campus students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.

The Top 50 Colleges in New Hampshire

Best Colleges In New Hampshire
01
Intelligent Pick
Dartmouth College
01
Best Public School
University of New Hampshire
01
Best Catholic Institution
Saint Anselm College
01
Best for International Students
Keene State College
01
Best Internships
Colby-Sawyer College
01
Most Customizable Program
Plymouth State University
01
Best Support Services
Franklin Pierce University
01
Best for Veterans
Southern New Hampshire University
01
Most Affordable
Granite State College
01
Best for Adult Learners
Rivier University
01

University of New Hampshire at Manchester
01

New England College
01

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
01

Magdalen College of the Liberal Arts

 

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in New Hampshire

When choosing a New Hampshire college to attend, take into account how your college education will prepare you to enter the state’s workforce. In October 2021, the five industries that employed the most workers in New Hampshire were trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; goods-producing; retail trade; and government.

The state’s five fastest-growing careers for workers with a bachelor’s degree are information security analysts, actuaries, atmospheric and space scientists, logisticians, and museum technicians and conservators. Enrolling in a college degree program that’s related to one of these fields could set you up with a promising career after graduation. In some cases, you may be able to begin working in your chosen field even while completing your college program.

Many of the largest employers in New Hampshire need qualified workers in these fields and career paths. A few of the state’s largest employers are the University System of New Hampshire, Trustees of Dartmouth College, and J Jill Distribution Center.

What’s Next?

While researching the best colleges in New Hampshire, it’s important to take into account what financial aid options are available to you. These state and federal resources have a wealth of information about grants, scholarships, and other financial aid help that you might be able to benefit from.

  • New Hampshire Department of Education. This department has detailed information on accredited colleges within New Hampshire and how students might go about choosing an affordable one.
  • Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Department of Education awards over $120 billion in financial aid to U.S. students each year. To see whether you qualify for funds, check the FAFSA4caster. Then, you can apply through the online FAFSA form.
  • CareerOneStop. An effort of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop provides extensive information on state-specific grants and scholarships. Sort New Hampshire grant and scholarship opportunities by their award amounts, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines.