by our College Data Analytics Team
Looking for the best colleges for the money in New Hampshire? This list ranks 26 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology. You are viewing our No Aid ranking, which weighs each school’s published sticker price (tuition, fees, and room and board) before financial aid — use Customize Your Rankings below to narrow the list.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 26 schools to compile this 2027 best-value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
See What’s Included in This Value Report:
After analyzing 26 schools in New Hampshire to determine which deliver the best value. Our ranking is based on objective factors.
We start with the combined cost of average tuition, fees, and room and board — the list price before aid is applied (our No Aid ranking). Cost alone isn’t enough — overall quality matters too. So we weigh that cost against outcomes like degree completion, educational resources, student-body caliber, and post-graduation earnings.
The schools that score best offer the strongest return on your investment. See the full methodology.
The best value for you depends on what and where you want to study. Drill down by location and field of study, or explore related rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is University Of New Hampshire At Manchester, our #1 best value in New Hampshire. Set in Manchester, NH, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,838, compared with $36,418 for out-of-state students. The median program debt is $26,393. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $66,479. Set against $26,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Granite State College came in at #2 on this year's best-value ranking in New Hampshire. This public school is set in Manchester, NH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,724, with out-of-state students paying around $9,284. Graduates carry a median of $26,770 in student loans. Granite State College alumni report median earnings of $66,479 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,770 median debt.
You'll get strong value at Lakes Region Community College, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Laconia, NH, Lakes Region Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $6,720, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,182.
Manchester Community College Nh came in at #4 on this year's best-value ranking in New Hampshire. Located in Manchester, NH, Manchester Community College Nh is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,090, with out-of-state students paying around $15,340. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,063.
River Valley Community College came in at #5 on this year's best-value ranking in New Hampshire. Based in Claremont, NH, River Valley Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,940, while out-of-state students pay about $15,190. Students borrow a median of $25,669 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,700. That is a strong return on a $25,669 median debt.
Keene State College landed the #6 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. This public school is set in Keene, NH. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,784, with out-of-state students paying around $26,840. Students borrow a median of $26,185 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,368 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
White Mountains Community College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. White Mountains Community College is a public school based in Berlin, NH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,050, with out-of-state students paying around $15,300. Students borrow a median of $18,250 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $35,037. Set against $18,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Empire Beauty School Hooksett came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Based in Hooksett, NH, Empire Beauty School Hooksett is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $9,833. Empire Beauty School Hooksett alumni report median earnings of $33,546 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,833 median debt.
Great Bay Community College landed the #9 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Located in Portsmouth, NH, Great Bay Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, compared with $15,450 for out-of-state students. Great Bay Community College students take on a median of $17,639 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,397. That is a strong return on a $17,639 median debt.
Empire Beauty School Somersworth landed the #10 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Set in Somersworth, NH, Empire Beauty School Somersworth is a private for-profit institution. Graduates carry a median of $9,833 in student loans.
Nhti Concords Community College landed the #11 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Nhti Concords Community College is a public school based in Concord, NH. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,450. The median program debt is $18,046. Nhti Concords Community College alumni report median earnings of $48,943 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Empire Beauty School Laconia offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Located in Laconia, NH, Empire Beauty School Laconia is a private for-profit institution. Typical student debt is $9,833. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $33,546. Set against $9,833 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Merrimack, NH, Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,400. The median program debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $53,565. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Plymouth State University placed #14 among the best values in New Hampshire. Plymouth State University is a public school based in Plymouth, NH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. The median program debt is $26,972. Plymouth State University alumni report median earnings of $57,304 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,972 median debt. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public school based in Durham, NH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Typical student debt is $26,368. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $66,479. That is a strong return on a $26,368 median debt. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus admits about 88% of applicants.
Keene Beauty Academy placed #16 among the best values in New Hampshire. This private for-profit school is set in Keene, NH. Students borrow a median of $11,966 to complete their program here.
Nashua Community College landed the #17 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Based in Nashua, NH, Nashua Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,140, while out-of-state students pay about $15,390. Students borrow a median of $10,608 to complete their program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,164 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $10,608 median debt.
New England College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Henniker, NH. Students from in state pay about $27,474 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,092. That is a strong return on a $35,038 median debt. About 92% of those who apply are admitted.
Franklin Pierce University offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Based in Rindge, NH, Franklin Pierce University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,442. Graduates carry a median of $26,937 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $53,353. That is a strong return on a $26,937 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Colby Sawyer College landed the #20 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Based in New London, NH, Colby Sawyer College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,125. The median program debt is $26,832. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $46,474. That is a strong return on a $26,832 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Rivier College landed the #21 spot for value in New Hampshire this year. Rivier College is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashua, NH. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,488. Graduates carry a median of $28,917 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $52,248. That is a strong return on a $28,917 median debt. About 83% of those who apply are admitted.
Dartmouth College placed #22 among the best values in New Hampshire. Based in Hanover, NH, Dartmouth College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Students borrow a median of $16,989 to complete their program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $97,434. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Dartmouth College admits about 5% of applicants.
Saint Anselm College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Located in Manchester, NH, Saint Anselm College is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,920. Typical student debt is $26,863. Saint Anselm College alumni report median earnings of $73,371 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 78% of those who apply are admitted.
Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Based in Portsmouth, NH, Paul Mitchell The School Portsmouth is a private for-profit institution. The median program debt is $9,833.
Southern New Hampshire University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Manchester, NH. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,200. Students borrow a median of $29,103 to complete their program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,318. That is a strong return on a $29,103 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
*Averages shown above reflect the top 26 ranked schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 26 schools evaluated. References
More about our data sources and methodologies.