by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in New Hampshire, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks **12** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual analyzed 12 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Dartmouth College earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in New Hampshire. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hanover, NH. About 96% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,019. Dartmouth College graduates report median early-career earnings of $81,992. Graduates carry a median of $16,989 in student loans.
You'll be in good company at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus, which ranked #2 this year. Based in Durham, NH, University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,064. The median student debt is $26,368.
The strong outcomes at Saint Anselm College earned it the #3 place in New Hampshire. This private not-for-profit school is set in Manchester, NH. Saint Anselm College posts a six-year graduation rate of 80%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,920. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,228 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,863 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #4 makes University Of New Hampshire At Manchester one of the top colleges in New Hampshire. Set in Manchester, NH, University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,838, while out-of-state students pay about $36,418. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,035 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,277 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #5 makes Keene State College one of the top colleges in New Hampshire. This public school is set in Keene, NH. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,784, compared with $26,840 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,049 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,185.
Colby Sawyer College landed the #6 spot in New Hampshire this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New London, NH. Colby Sawyer College graduates 54% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $19,125. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $54,655. Students borrow a median of $26,832 to complete a degree here.
Rivier College came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Located in Nashua, NH, Rivier College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,488. Early-career graduates earn a median of $60,796. The median student debt is $28,917.
Plymouth State University placed #8 among the best colleges in New Hampshire. Located in Plymouth, NH, Plymouth State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. Students from in state pay about $14,626 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,566 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $45,528. Typical student debt is $26,972.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Manchester, NH, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southern New Hampshire University posts a six-year graduation rate of 44%. In-state tuition and fees run about $17,200. Median early-career earnings reach $53,211. Southern New Hampshire University students take on a median of $29,103 in debt.
Franklin Pierce University landed the #10 spot in New Hampshire this year. Based in Rindge, NH, Franklin Pierce University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $46,442. Early-career graduates earn a median of $59,350. Typical student debt is $26,937.
Granite State College landed the #11 spot in New Hampshire this year. Set in Manchester, NH, Granite State College is a public institution. Roughly 23% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,724, compared with $9,284 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $55,121. Graduates carry a median of $27,522 in student loans.
Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts placed #12 among the best colleges in New Hampshire. Based in Merrimack, NH, Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts graduates 62% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $30,400. Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts graduates report median early-career earnings of $33,863. Typical student debt is $27,000.
New England College did well this year, earning the #13 position. Located in Henniker, NH, New England College is a private not-for-profit institution. New England College graduates 35% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $27,474 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $68,950. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.