Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire of 2023
Online higher education options in the state of New Hampshire include not only traditional four-year universities but also community colleges, certification programs, and virtual apprenticeships. If you’re planning to take college courses online, New Hampshire has plenty of options to choose from. Below, we’ll go over tuition rates, financial aid, and everything else you need to know about attending online universities and colleges in New Hampshire.
Our Research
This list features some of the best online 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 majority of our reviewed institutions are accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which holds schools within this six-state region to rigorous quality standards. One institution is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, which holds national colleges and universities to these same high standards.
We evaluated each school on tuition costs, admission, retention and graduation rates, faculty, and reputation as well as the student resources provided for online students. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score on a scale of 0 to 100. Read more about our ranking methodology.
The Top 50 Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Frequently Asked Questions: Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Does New Hampshire have good online colleges and universities?
Absolutely. The state offers a wealth of online educational opportunities, such as Rivier University’s Online Bachelor’s in Business Administration and New England College’s Online Bachelor’s in Accounting. After you graduate, you may want to consider staying in New Hampshire to complete a master’s degree while you work in one of the state’s many growing fields. New Hampshire is rich in graduate school options, like the University of New Hampshire’s Master of Social Work and Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Master’s in Communication.
Do online college credits in New Hampshire cost more than in-person classes?
The answer to this question depends on which college you attend. Some schools offer discounted rates for online courses, whereas others charge an additional fee for online courses to help cover the cost of software licenses, technical support, etc. For example, if you’d like to take online graduate classes at the University of New Hampshire, you’ll pay a per-semester technology fee starting at $26 for one to four credits and maxing out at $105 for nine to sixteen credits.
Why should you choose New Hampshire for online higher education?
From affordable community colleges to private religious institutions to top public research universities, New Hampshire offers something for every type of online college student. One option that stands out as a particularly appealing choice is New England College’s online program, which offers a flat rate of $375 per undergraduate credit (and no extra online fees) for all online students regardless of state residency.
The Cost of Online College in New Hampshire
How much does an online degree in New Hampshire cost?
The cost of an online degree in New Hampshire depends on which institution you attend as well as the type of degree that you decide to pursue. For example, private schools are typically more expensive than public schools, and undergraduate degrees are usually more affordable than graduate degrees. Also, you’ll probably find yourself paying more for your degree if you major in a STEM field rather than the humanities.
Regardless of the cost per credit, you should also consider that you may be able to save money on indirect expenses, such as transportation, parking, and housing, by earning your college degree online.
To give you a sense of exactly how much you should expect to pay for your online education, we’ve listed the lowest and highest rates for earning an online bachelor’s degree in New Hampshire below:
- Most affordable online college in New Hampshire: Granite State College: $314 per credit in-state; $365 per credit out of state
- Most expensive online college in New Hampshire: Franklin Pierce College: $400 per credit
Source: Education Data Initiative
How long do you have to live in New Hampshire to get in-state tuition rates?
Typically, you will be eligible for in-state tuition rates after you have lived in New Hampshire for one year. Some groups, such as military veterans, tribal members, and graduate fellows, are entitled to in-state tuition rates without meeting this one-year requirement.
Who qualifies for reduced tuition costs in New Hampshire?
The New England Regional Student Program (RSP) allows New Hampshire residents enrolled in over 1,200 approved degree programs at public campuses in the five other New England states to pay significantly lower tuition at out-of-state public colleges and universities in New England. This is part of the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program.
The average annual tuition savings through the program is currently $8,200, but note that this benefit is only available for students who attend public colleges and universities in New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. All of New England’s public colleges and universities participate in the program, which was founded in 1957.
College Financial Aid, Scholarships, and Grant Programs in New Hampshire
If you don’t qualify for the New England RSP, there are many other sources of financial support available that can help you cover the cost of college. Some of these programs are based on income, whereas others are awarded based on factors such as demographics or academic merit. We’ve reviewed a few of the most prominent scholarship options for you below.
The Stephen Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund
High school seniors in New Hampshire are among those from six New England states eligible to apply for a scholarship from this fund that helps college students with limited financial resources achieve high academic goals. Since it was created in 1971, over $70 million in scholarship grants have been awarded.
Who’s eligible? Permanent residents of the New England states who are attending college anywhere in the United States can apply. The award is renewable for four years, but students must maintain a GPA of at least 2.5.
Contact information: [email protected] | 978-744-2111
Governor's Scholarship Program
The Governor’s Scholarship Program awards scholarships to eligible New Hampshire students toward the cost of a postsecondary education or training program. Scholarships are renewable for four years and can be applied to the tuition, fees, and direct costs of an education at a participating institution.
Who’s eligible? Students must be Pell Grant-eligible and meet specific New Hampshire residency and academic requirements.
Contact information: [email protected] | 603-271-2621
New Hampshire Charitable Foundation
New Hampshire students looking for scholarships to fund any level of higher education — from associate to doctoral degrees — are invited to register with this foundation, which oversees and administers 429 scholarships annually. Scholarships range in monetary value but total about $7 million in funding each year.
Who’s eligible? Using a single, online application, New Hampshire residents are matched automatically with all scholarship opportunities for which they qualify. Many awards are renewable for each year that a student is in school.
Contact information: [email protected] | 603-225-6641
NHHEAF Network Scholarship
This annual scholarship program, sponsored by the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation, was created to support eligible New Hampshire residents in covering the cost of tuition. It offers a range of scholarships targeted at students who have demonstrated a commitment to volunteerism, leadership, or academic excellence.
Who’s eligible? Undergraduates who are enrolled in college at least half-time, have a GPA of 2.5, and can demonstrate financial need may apply. Awardees can attend schools out of state as long as they are New Hampshire residents.
Contact information: [email protected] | 888-747-2382
5 Fastest Growing Industries in New Hampshire
If you still don’t know where you will attend college, it’s quite possible you don’t yet know what you will major in as well. In that case, one of the most important factors that you should consider is which industries are growing the fastest in New Hampshire — this will make it easier to find a job, and the higher demand should also help you earn a higher salary.
By examining the state’s New Hampshire Long-term Industry Projections 2020 to 2030, we’ve determined that the following five industries will have the highest growth rates over the next eight years.
Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation
The arts and cultural industries contribute $2.3 billion to New Hampshire’s economy and are supported by the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts, which is a driving force behind this sector’s projected growth. Nationally, the industries within this sector with the highest levels of employment are motion picture and video production, radio and television broadcasting, and advertising – these jobs have an average salary of $64,000. Specific jobs in this sector include reporters, camera operators, graphic designers, and technical writers.
- Growth: 42.1%
- Degree options: Associate in Industrial Design, Bachelor’s in Cinematography, Bachelor’s in Animation, Bachelor’s in Digital Arts, Master’s in Journalism, Master of Fine Arts, Ph.D. in Creative Writing
Accomodation and Food
Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2021 shows New Hampshire is the fastest-growing state in the Northeast, which, not surprisingly, has caused an increase in job opportunities in the food and beverage industry. Nationally, the places within this sector with the highest levels of employment are restaurants, special food services, and food and beverage stores – these jobs have an average salary of $27,650. Specific jobs in this sector include chefs, food preparation workers, bartenders, school cafeteria attendants, and restaurant managers.
- Growth: 1.26%
- Degree options: Associate in Food and Beverage Studies, Bachelor’s in Food Industry Compliance, Bachelor’s in Baking and Pastry Arts, Bachelor’s in Culinary Arts, Bachelor’s in Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship, Master’s in Business Administration
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
New Hampshire is home to some of the nation’s top educational institutions, including Dartmouth University and the University of New Hampshire, which leads to its strength in the sciences and other professional fields. Occupations within this sector include scientific researchers, architects, engineers, attorneys, and accountants — these jobs have an average salary of $85,517 in New Hampshire.
- Growth: 14.8%
- Degree options: Associate in Food Science, Bachelor’s in Archeology, Bachelor’s in Geography, Bachelor’s in Economics, Master’s in Political Science, Master of Forestry, Ph.D. in Urban Planning
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
Because New Hampshire is a rapidly growing state, it makes sense that the need for healthcare practitioners and technicians is rising. Within this sector, the most common occupations are registered nurses and pharmacy technicians. Other occupations in this domain include dental hygienists, physicians, speech-language pathologists, and athletic trainers. The average statewide salary for all jobs in this industry is $92,920.
- Growth: 14.2%
- Degree options: Associate in Veterinary Medicine, Bachelor’s in Nursing, Bachelor’s in Recreational Therapy, Bachelor’s in Audiology, Master’s in Genetic Counseling, Master’s in Communicative Sciences and Disorders, Doctor of Medicine
Transportation and Warehousing
New Hampshire is the headquarters of some major manufacturers, including GE Aviation, BAE Systems, Velcro USA, Inc., and Albany International, which means warehousing and transportation remains a solid and growing industry. Jobs within this category include packagers, airline pilots, transportation inspectors, conveyor operators, locomotive engineers, and supervisors. The average national salary in the transportation industry is $39,680, with airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers considerably higher at $186,870.
- Growth: 12.8%
- Degree options: Associate in Logistics, Associate in Railroad Operations, Bachelor’s in Transportation and Logistics Management, Bachelor’s in Supply Chain Management, Bachelor’s in Air Traffic Management, Master’s in Business Administration, Master’s in Aviation