Compare School Options

Most schools have rolling admissions and financial help so you can start your degree in a few weeks!

Why This Matters

  • 17 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

    According to College Navigator, the four-year colleges in New Hampshire include 6 public and 11 private non-profit options.

  • $17,025 AVERAGE IN-STATE TUITION & FEES

    For the 2022-23 school year, the average in-state tuition for public four-year colleges in New Hampshire is $17,025, according to College Board.

  • $15,330 AVERAGE FINANCIAL AID

    In the U.S., full-time undergraduate students attending college in 2021-22 received an average of $15,330 per year in financial aid.

Our Research

This list features some of the best brick-and-mortar colleges in New Hampshire. Each school featured is a nonprofit, accredited institution — either public or private — with a high standard of academic quality. 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, such as U.S. News & World Report, 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) — this organization examines the objectives, quality, and overall effectiveness of postsecondary education programs in the northeastern United States.

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

Online College Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The Top 50 Colleges in New Hampshire

Best Colleges In New Hampshire
01

Dartmouth College
01

University of New Hampshire - Main Campus
01

Saint Anselm College
01

Keene State College
01

University of New Hampshire at Manchester
01

Rivier University
01

Plymouth State University
01

Southern New Hampshire University
01

Colby-Sawyer College
01

Franklin Pierce University
01

New England College
01

Granite State College
01

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

Discover More Options

 

What You Should Know About Graduating From College in New Hampshire

When choosing a New Hampshire college to attend, you should consider how your education will prepare you to enter the workforce. As of May 2022, the five industries that employ the most workers in New Hampshire are office and administrative support occupations, sales, food preparation and serving, transportation and material moving, and management.

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 should 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 you’re still completing your college program.

Many of the most prominent employers in New Hampshire need qualified college graduates. A few of the state’s largest employers include the University System of New Hampshire, Dartmouth College, and Concord Hospital.

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. The state and federal resources listed below offer a wealth of information about grants, scholarships, and other opportunities that you might be able to benefit from.


Compare School Options