Students looking for online colleges in New Hampshire can find a variety of options in the state. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that New Hampshire boasts a total of 27 colleges and universities. This includes 13 public, 12 nonprofit, and two for-profit degree-granting institutions. For students seeking an associate degree, diploma, or certificate, the state also offers eight two-year schools. This guide introduces some of the best online colleges in New Hampshire to help learners find the school for their needs. It also includes a brief overview of New Hampshire higher education generally and online education specifically. Prospective students can learn about tuition breaks for out-of-state learners and the job outlook for college graduates in the state. The guide concludes with a collection of financial aid and scholarship opportunities for students at online schools in New Hampshire.
But before we dive into our list of the best online colleges in New Hampshire for 2018, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in New Hampshire today.
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Overview of Online Colleges in New Hampshire
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in New Hampshire
Although small compared to many other states, New Hampshire in recent years saw an increase in total student enrollment and percentage of distance learners. In 2016, New Hampshire's total enrollment for students at degree-granting postsecondary institutions hit 133,136, according to the NCES. Unlike most other states, which saw an overall enrollment decline from 2011-2016, New Hampshire's enrollment increased an astonishing 71.9% during that time.[dataviz-stats public="13" non-profit="12" for-profit="2"]Expenses add up when earning a college degree in New Hampshire. College Board data indicates the average annual in-state tuition and fees for public four-year schools in New Hampshire cost $16,460 in the 2018-19 school year. In-state students in only one other state, Vermont, paid more on average for one year of tuition and fees. In most states, in-state students pay under $10,000 a year (and sometimes much less) to attend a public four-year school. Tuition at the state's flagship university, the University of New Hampshire, hit $18,545 annually for in-state students in 2018-19, with out-of-state students facing a tuition bill of $33,879 that year. Students attending the best online colleges in New Hampshire qualify for a variety of financial aid opportunities, including loans, grants, scholarships, and work study.Students can expect online learning to continue to expand in New Hampshire. Southern New Hampshire University, one of the state's fastest-growing schools, boasts a successful eLearning initiative expected to grow larger in coming years.
Higher Education in New Hampshire
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in New Hampshire
An Online Learning Survey for New Hampshire found the state substantially outpaces the national average for students enrolled in online classes. In fall 2015, 68,362 learners took at least one online course, including New Hampshire community college online courses. This represents 55.1% of the total student body, while the national average hit only 29.7% during the same time. More than 60,000 students (48% of all students in the state) took all of their courses at online schools in New Hampshire, including 42,843 undergraduates and 17,188 graduates. Of the exclusively online learners, 9,693 students (16.1%) live in New Hampshire, with the rest coming from out of state. The percentage of students taking at least one course on campus, including a mix of on-campus and distance courses, hit 51.6%.[dataviz-nces online="55.1" undergrad="13.5" in-state="16.1"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
Out-of-state students typically pay much higher tuition rates than in-state learners, although some online colleges in New Hampshire offer tuition discounts to out-of-state learners. The New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) helps New England residents access educational services and opportunities. Founded in 1955, NEBHE coordinates a variety of programs that promote regional educational resource sharing. One of NEBHE's best-known programs remains the New England Regional Student Program (RSP) tuition break, which helps New England residents attending out-of-state colleges and universities afford their degrees more easily. The RSP lets New England residents pay reduced out-of-state tuition when they enroll in participating academic programs in other New England states. Full-time students who participate in the RSP save $8,033 on average each year.Not only does the RSP make school more affordable for New England students who want to study outside of their home states, it also promotes efficiency and cost savings by minimizing duplication of academic programs at multiple schools. The RSP also helps institutions that might otherwise be too small to continue operating by attracting non-resident students. Other NEBHE member states besides New Hampshire include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
See below for our rankings of the best online four-year programs in New Hampshire. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list their services for distance students and their popular, fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in New Hampshire, explore our state resources, such as a database of every college and university in New Hampshire or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in New Hampshire
See below for a second listing of the top online colleges in New Hampshire, ranked according to tuition rates.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online schools in New Hampshire is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in NH with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in New Hampshire
Job Outlook for College Graduates in New Hampshire
Graduates from online colleges in New Hampshire can expect a promising job outlook now and in coming years. The state's low overall unemployment rate of 2.7% in August 2018 speaks to the high demand for qualified employees in a variety of industries. Recent graduates benefit from this need for workers, perhaps getting hired for positions that require more experience in an economy with more people seeking fewer jobs. New Hampshire residents earn a healthy mean annual wage of $51,040 for all occupations.