Best Colleges in New Hampshire

The higher education experts at BestColleges reviewed top 4-year colleges in New Hampshire. Start planning your future at BestColleges.
Staff Writers
By
Updated October 30, 2024
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With a population of 1.35 million residents across less than 10,000 square miles, New Hampshire is one of the smallest and least-populous states in the U.S. Even so, its geographic location — with easy access to major cities like Boston, New York, and Montreal — helps make the state a popular hub for business and industry.

New Hampshire’s major industries vary by region. For example, tourism provides a substantial economic boost in the Lakes Region, while the manufacturing and technology industries are highly concentrated in the Seacoast and Merrimack Valley regions. Healthcare also plays a major role throughout the state, with registered nurses standing out as one of the top occupations by number of employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Data from the BLS suggest that a college degree can lead to significantly increased wages over time, and New Hampshire’s 20+ colleges and universities offer higher education access to individuals who want to improve their earning potential. However, choosing your ideal school can be difficult. To aid you in your search, we have compiled a list of the top 10 colleges in New Hampshire. The following ranking highlights some of the academic offerings, admission requirements, and campus life and culture of these schools. Read on to look for your ideal college match.

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Best Accredited Colleges in New Hampshire

#1

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH4 yearCampus

$60,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

6%

Acceptance Rate

2%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,687

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,687

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

6,746

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,687

Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$60,687

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,687

Acceptance Rate

6%

Online Enrollment

2%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$60,687

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$60,687

Retention Rate

98%

Students Enrolled

6,746

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#2

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$15,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,290

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

87%

Acceptance Rate

26%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,170

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,810

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

13,679

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,290

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Durham, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,520

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,290

Acceptance Rate

87%

Online Enrollment

26%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,170

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$27,810

Retention Rate

86%

Students Enrolled

13,679

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#3

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH2 yearCampus

$43,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

25%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,000

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,000

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

2,078

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,940

Saint Anselm College

Manchester, NH2 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$43,940

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$43,940

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

25%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$25,000

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$25,000

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

2,078

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#4

University of New Hampshire at Manchester

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus

$15,150

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$34,010

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

85%

Acceptance Rate

47%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,170

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,590

Retention Rate

65%

Students Enrolled

534

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,150

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,010

University of New Hampshire at Manchester

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,150

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$34,010

Acceptance Rate

85%

Online Enrollment

47%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$14,170

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,590

Retention Rate

65%

Students Enrolled

534

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#5

Keene State College

Keene, NH2 yearCampus + Online

$11,754

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$22,663

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

90%

Acceptance Rate

6%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,756

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,286

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

2,890

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,754

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,663

Keene State College

Keene, NH2 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,754

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,663

Acceptance Rate

90%

Online Enrollment

6%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,756

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,286

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

2,890

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#6

Rivier University

Nashua, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$35,445

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,445

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

84%

Acceptance Rate

50%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,080

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,080

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

2,551

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,445

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,445

Rivier University

Nashua, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$35,445

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$35,445

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

50%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$11,080

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,080

Retention Rate

76%

Students Enrolled

2,551

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#7

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$11,870

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$22,810

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

91%

Acceptance Rate

48%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,720

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,240

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,839

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,870

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,810

Plymouth State University

Plymouth, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,870

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,810

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

48%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$6,720

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$9,240

Retention Rate

71%

Students Enrolled

3,839

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

#8

Colby-Sawyer College

New London, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$46,364

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$46,364

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

78%

Acceptance Rate

12%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,800

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,800

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

943

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$46,364

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$46,364

Colby-Sawyer College

New London, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$46,364

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$46,364

Acceptance Rate

78%

Online Enrollment

12%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,800

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,800

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

943

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#9

Franklin Pierce University

Rindge, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$39,055

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,055

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

93%

Acceptance Rate

35%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$37,200

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,200

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

1,663

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,055

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,055

Franklin Pierce University

Rindge, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$39,055

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$39,055

Acceptance Rate

93%

Online Enrollment

35%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$37,200

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$37,200

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

1,663

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus + Online

$15,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

96%

Acceptance Rate

97%

Online Enrollment
Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,900

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,900

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

164,091

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,000

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, NH4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$15,000

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$15,000

Acceptance Rate

96%

Online Enrollment

97%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$18,900

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$18,900

Retention Rate

62%

Students Enrolled

164,091

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Best Community Colleges in New Hampshire

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