Best colleges in New Hampshire
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in New Hampshire13 schools
13 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in New Hampshire.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH · Private nonprofitIvy LeagueHonor Roll#1 in New Hampshire
- Value grade B+ · Top 34%
- 96% graduate
- 2
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
Merrimack, NH · Private nonprofit#2 in New Hampshire
- Value grade B · Top 49%
- 63% graduate
- 3
Saint Anselm College
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofitTop 11% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 80% graduate
- 4
- 5
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Manchester, NH · PublicTop 15% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 8%
- 50% graduate
- 6
- 7
Franklin Pierce University
Rindge, NH · Private nonprofit#7 in New Hampshire
- Value grade C+
- 54% graduate
- 8
- 9
- 10
Plymouth State University
Plymouth, NH · Public#10 in New Hampshire
- Value grade B · Top 47%
- 52% graduate
- 11
University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online
Manchester, NH · PublicTop 17% for low net price
- Value grade A · Top 10%
- 30% graduate
- 12
- 13
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit#13 in New Hampshire
- Value grade C+
- 43% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dartmouth College | About $30,000 | $17,500 | $97,434 | 96% |
| Thomas More College of Liberal Arts | About $18,000 | $25,000 | $53,565 | 63% |
| Saint Anselm College | About $35,000 | $27,000 | $73,371 | 80% |
| University of New Hampshire | About $24,000 | $26,814 | $66,479 | 76% |
| University of New Hampshire at Manchester | About $10,000 | $26,814 | $66,479 | 50% |
| Keene State College | About $18,000 | $25,749 | $54,368 | 60% |
| Franklin Pierce University | About $27,000 | $27,000 | $53,353 | 54% |
| Colby-Sawyer College | About $27,000 | $27,000 | $46,474 | 57% |
| Rivier University | About $28,000 | $26,956 | $52,248 | 52% |
| Plymouth State University | About $19,000 | $26,000 | $57,304 | 52% |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | About $11,000 | $26,814 | $66,479 | 30% |
| New England College | About $27,000 | $26,000 | $42,092 | 35% |
| Southern New Hampshire University | About $37,000 | $21,082 | $50,318 | 43% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maine 19
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3