2026 Best Graduate Schools in New Hampshire
With all of the graduate school options in New Hampshire, narrowing things down is no easy task. Our ranking highlights 30 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed graduate schools across over 20 objective factors 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.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The best graduate school for you depends on what you want to study. Refine the list by location and field of study, or explore other rankings below. Start by picking a degree level:
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Top 25 Graduate Schools in New Hampshire
Explore the leading graduate schools below:
Dartmouth College tops our 2026 ranking of the best graduate schools in New Hampshire. This private not-for-profit school is set in Hanover, NH. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $68,019. Median early-career earnings reach $81,992. Typical student debt is $16,989.
Out of the 30 graduate schools in New Hampshire in this year's ranking, Upper Valley Educators Institute landed the #2 spot. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lebanon, NH. Median early-career earnings reach $43,549. Students borrow a median of $19,250 to complete a degree here.
You'll be in good company at University Of New Hampshire Main Campus, which ranked #3 this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public school based in Durham, NH. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $19,202, while out-of-state students pay about $39,852. Median early-career earnings reach $52,064. The median student debt is $26,368.
The strong outcomes at University Of New Hampshire School Of Law earned it the #4 place in New Hampshire. Based in Concord, NH, University Of New Hampshire School Of Law is a public institution.
A rank of #5 makes Saint Anselm College one of the top graduate schools in New Hampshire. This private not-for-profit school is set in Manchester, NH. About 80% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,920. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,228. Typical student debt is $26,863.
Rivier College came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Nashua, NH, Rivier College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 51%. In-state tuition and fees run about $39,488. Median early-career earnings reach $60,796. Graduates carry a median of $28,917 in student loans.
University Of New Hampshire At Manchester ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. University Of New Hampshire At Manchester is a public school based in Manchester, NH. About 59% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $15,838 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,418. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,035. Students borrow a median of $26,277 to complete a degree here.
Keene State College did well this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Keene, NH. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,784, while out-of-state students pay about $26,840. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,049 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $26,185 in student loans.
Colby Sawyer College landed the #9 spot in New Hampshire this year. Colby Sawyer College is a private not-for-profit school based in New London, NH. About 54% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $19,125. Early-career graduates earn a median of $54,655. Graduates carry a median of $26,832 in student loans.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #10 in this year's ranking. Located in Manchester, NH, Southern New Hampshire University is a private not-for-profit institution. About 44% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $17,200 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $53,211 early in their careers. Southern New Hampshire University students take on a median of $29,103 in debt.
Franklin Pierce University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Rindge, NH, Franklin Pierce University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. Students from in state pay about $46,442 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,350 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,937.
Plymouth State University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Plymouth, NH, Plymouth State University is a public institution. Plymouth State University graduates 52% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,626, while out-of-state students pay about $25,566. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,528 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,972 to complete a degree here.
Granite State College landed the #13 spot in New Hampshire this year. Set in Manchester, NH, Granite State College is a public institution. About 23% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $7,724 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,284. Median early-career earnings reach $55,121. Granite State College students take on a median of $27,522 in debt.
Nhti Concords Community College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Concord, NH, Nhti Concords 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. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $50,550. Typical student debt is $18,046.
Antioch University New England did well this year, earning the #15 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Keene, NH. Antioch University New England graduates report median early-career earnings of $51,191.
New England College placed #16 among the best graduate schools in New Hampshire. Set in Henniker, NH, New England College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 35% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,474. New England College graduates report median early-career earnings of $68,950. New England College students take on a median of $35,038 in debt.
Nashua Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Nashua Community College is a public school based in Nashua, NH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,140, while out-of-state students pay about $15,390. Graduates go on to earn a median of $24,074 early in their careers. Nashua Community College students take on a median of $10,608 in debt.
Great Bay Community College placed #18 among the best graduate schools in New Hampshire. Based in Portsmouth, NH, Great Bay Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,200 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,450. Median early-career earnings reach $48,692. Graduates carry a median of $17,639 in student loans.
Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts did well this year, earning the #19 position. Located in Merrimack, NH, Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas More College Of Liberal Arts posts a six-year graduation rate of 62%. Students from in state pay about $30,400 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $33,863. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Manchester Community College Nh ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Manchester, NH, Manchester Community College Nh is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,340.
River Valley Community College ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Based in Claremont, NH, River Valley Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,940, with out-of-state students paying around $15,190. Median early-career earnings reach $50,859. River Valley Community College students take on a median of $25,669 in debt.
White Mountains Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Berlin, NH. In-state tuition and fees average $7,050, while out-of-state students pay about $15,300. Median early-career earnings reach $60,162. Graduates carry a median of $18,250 in student loans.
Lakes Region Community College placed #23 among the best graduate schools in New Hampshire. Located in Laconia, NH, Lakes Region Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,720, compared with $14,970 for out-of-state students.
St Joseph School Of Nursing placed #24 among the best graduate schools in New Hampshire. St Joseph School Of Nursing is a private not-for-profit school based in Nashua, NH. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,438. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $71,623. The median student debt is $24,167.
Harmony Health Care Institute did well this year, earning the #25 position. Set in Merrimack, NH, Harmony Health Care Institute is a private for-profit institution. Median early-career earnings reach $85,953. Students borrow a median of $12,685 to complete a degree here.
Rest of the Top 20% Best Graduate Schools in New Hampshire
These graduate schools rounded out the top of the list:
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Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.