7 Best Online Colleges In New Hampshire

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"The Granite State" as New Hampshire is known due to its ample granite bedrock, also has a solid educational foundation of over 30 higher education institutions.

These span from community colleges to Ivy League member, Dartmouth College. Even if you don't live in the extremely scenic state of New Hampshire, you can still receive an excellent education from it in the comfort of your home. Online colleges are a top-notch option for people with full-time jobs, families to take care of, and busy lifestyles. They allow for the same, quality education you would receive on campus, but with the added benefit of flexibility and affordability.

This is especially enticing for those of you who live in a state which is part of the New England Regional Student Program (RSP). This is a program that allows for students in nearby states to enroll in degree programs at a lower tuition rate.

Below is a list of the top 8 online colleges in New Hampshire to make this next step in your academic career easier.

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What are the best online colleges in New Hampshire?

How did we come up with our ranking? We examine several factors, including the satisfaction of students, affordability, academic reputation, institutional stability, return on investment and more. This means we look at student reviews, compare overall costs, and success in the post-college job market. Our data comes from IPEDS, Payscale, college websites, and US News & World Report.

Rankings 

See our rankings methodology page.

  1. University of New Hampshire
    Location

    Manchester, NH

    Tuition

    $21995

    Overview

    The University of New Hampshire’s main campus is located in Durham, NH. This particular campus size is 1,000 acres and one of the university’s 3 campuses. The public research university was founded in 1866. It is a member of the 4-college University System of New Hampshire. UNH’s Master’s of Business Administration program is authorized by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the most noteworthy standard of accreditation for business universities everywhere.

    Program Features

    The University of New Hampshire makes an effort to provide engaging courses even for online students. This means utilizing recording lectures, video and voice calls, etc. The degree programs offered online are at the master’s and doctoral levels. These include:

    • Business Administration (M.B.A.)
    • Educational Studies (M. Ed.)
    • Social Work (M.S.W.)
    • Nursing (D.N.P.)

    Notables

    Online programs feature fast, 8-week terms for maximum convenience to distance learners.

  2. Plymouth State University
    Location

    Plymouth, NH

    Tuition

    $21473

    Overview

    Located in rural Plymouth, New Hampshire, Plymouth State University is a public university. It is part of the 5-member University System of New Hampshire. Plymouth State was founded in 1871 and its campus spans 170 acres. The university was originally established as a teacher-training school, and today has a total enrollment of about 6,235 students. Graduate programs began being offered in 1948. Today, the college has expanded its reach through offering online programs.

    Program Features

    Online programs offered by Plymouth State are specifically aimed for graduate students. Additionally, the school maintains its teacher-training school roots with the Master of Education offered with 5 fields of concentration available. Some online graduate programs include:

    • Education Technology Integrator (M.Ed.)
    • General Management (M.B.A.)
    • Criminal Justice Administration (M.S.)
    • Curriculum and Instruction (M.Ed.)
    • Online Instructional Design (M.Ed.)

    Notables

    Plymouth State University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. An interesting fact about the college is that the poet Robert Frost was once a part of the faculty at Plymouth State.

  3. Southern New Hampshire University
    Location

    Manchester, NH

    Tuition

    $34256

    Overview

    Southern New Hampshire University was founded in 1932. It is a private, nonprofit institution located in Manchester, New Hampshire. The Brick-and-mortar campus spans 300 acres.To describe SNHU in one word would be expansive—the university has over 80,000 students through its online degree programs. The university is extremely fast-growing due to their implementation and full embrace of the online program platform.

    Program Features

    Southern New Hampshire University offers more than 200 online degree programs! These include both bachelor’s and master’s levels. The school utilizes rolling admission and short, 9-week terms for undergraduate and 10 for graduate programs. Popular majors include:

    • Criminal Justice (M.S.)
    • Anthropology (B.A.)
    • Sociology (B.A.)
    • English & Creative Writing (M.A.)

    Notables

    The school provides an online library and 24/7 online chat resources. Every student is assigned an academic advisor to guide them throughout their educational journey. The university is known for being military friendly with tuition savings and various other benefits for service members.

  4. Rivier University
    Location

    Nashua, NH

    Tuition

    $26633

    Overview

    Founded in 1933 by the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary and Sister Madeleine of Jesus, Rivier University was originally located in Hudson and named Rivier College. The Catholic, liberal arts university is named after the Blessed Anne Marie Rivier. It is a member of the New Hampshire College & University Council. It is a nonprofit institution that earned university status in 2012. Online programs are a popular option among the 2,723 students at Rivier University.

    Program Features

    Rivier University uses rolling admission, which allows for flexibility and quick admission decision response. The school offers a generous transfer policy of up to 90 credits. A popular degree option is a Bachelor’s of Arts in Individualized Studies, in which students can customize their degree program. Other popular majors include:

    • Psychology (B.A.)
    • Nursing (M.S.)
    • Business Administration (B.S.)
    • Public Health (B.S.)

    Notables

    Rivier University has a multitude of campus resources; these include a campus ministry and a career development center.

  5. Franklin Pierce University
    Location

    Rindge, NH

    Tuition

    $28363

    Overview

    Franklin Pierce University was established in 1962 in the rural town of Rindge, New Hampshire. The private institution is named after the 14th president of the United States. The curriculum of courses have a liberal arts foundation combined with professional programs. The physical main campus spans across a 1,000-acre campus. Along with the main campus, Franklin Pierce University also has the College of Graduate & Professional Studies, which has 4 center locations. The 1,668 student university emphasizes a “Commitment to the Environment”. The university is student-focused, offering online degrees for maximum success.

    Program Features

    Franklin Pierce University accepts students through rolling admission, so you will hear back from them shortly after applying. Online programs include degrees at the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s level. Both online and hybrid degrees are offered. The following are some popular degree options:

    • Emergency Medical Services (B.S.)
    • Nursing (M.S.)
    • Healthcare Administration (B.S.)
    • Business Administration (M.B.A.)
    • Marketing (B.A.)

    Notables

    The university designs programs to connect students from their programs to careers. Small class size due to the student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1 fosters a deeper sense of community.

  6. Colby-Sawyer College
    Location

    New London, NH

    Tuition

    $25462

    Overview

    Colby-Sawyer College is located in New London, New Hampshire on a 200-acre campus. It has a rich history, including temporarily being a junior college for women. The university is named after the original organizers of the institution along with former university president Dr. Sawyer. Colby-Sawyer College began offering their online program only recently, within the last three years.

    Program Features

    At the moment, Colby-Sawyer College only offers one online degree, the Nursing R.N-to-B.S. This program utilizes 15-week courses. If you already have a nursing diploma or associate’s degree, this program is a perfect opportunity to further your career in a flexible manner. Courses in this program include:

    • Community and Public Health Nursing
    • The Context for High-Quality Care Delivery
    • Nursing Leadership and Management in Health Care Systems

    Notables

    Up to 90 credits can be transferred into this degree program. This degree is typically completed between 16 months and 3 years depending on students’ schedules.

  7. Granite State College
    Location

    Concord, NH

    Tuition

    $12473

    Overview

    Granite State College is located in Concord, New Hampshire. It is a public institution with 9 physical locations in New Hampshire, as well as an online team for assisting students located out of state. Founded in 1972, the college is part of the University System of New Hampshire. It is regionally accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. At Granite State College, over 77% of students enrolled take online courses.

    Program Features

    Whether blended or fully online, Granite State College offers a wide variety of programs online. These include blended and fully online courses, along with bachelor’s, master’s, associate’s, and certificates. Popular programs are:

    • Project Management (M.S.)
    • Psychology (B.S.)
    • Leadership (M.S.)
    • Business Management (B.S.)
    • Accounting and Finance (B.S.)

    Notables

    Granite State College is ranked in U.S News & World Report’s “Best Online Programs for Veterans”, so known for its commitment to service members. Additionally recognized as a top school for online bachelor’s programs and graduate business programs (excluding MBA).

  8. New England College
    Location

    Henniker, NH

    Tuition

    $30150

    Overview

    New England College is a private, small college located in the rural town of Henniker, New Hampshire. The campus is about 15 minutes outside of the state capital, Concord. Founded in 1946, today the college has about 1,500 total online students alone. NEC welcomes transfer students and offers a generous credit transfer policy of up to 90 credits. NEC first began offering undergraduate degrees online through Bisk in 2012.

    Program Features

    New England College currently offers 16 online undergraduate and graduate programs. There are associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degree options. Several academic programs designed for those who serve in the military are offered, all of which are online, such as a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Relations & Diplomacy. Other online degrees offered include:

    • Psychology (B.A.)
    • Sociology (B.A.)
    • Professional Writing (M.A.)
    • Healthcare Management (M.B.A.)

    Notables

    TIME Magazine reported that New England College is one of the most diversified colleges in the U.S. The school is also recognized by U.S. News & World Report several times over for their online programs.

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