The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Updated June 5, 2023
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The small-yet-mighty state of New Hampshire has many online college programs that fit diverse learners' needs
Online colleges in New Hampshire offer first-year and returning students the opportunity to enroll in flexible, affordable distance education. Many of New Hampshire's roughly 40 community colleges, universities, and technical schools offer online undergraduate, graduate, or certification programs. Programs that allow students to stay at home and complete courses at their own pace may appeal to today's busy students.
New Hampshire colleges set students up for success. According to 2019 data from the New Hampshire Department of Education, 90.73% of students graduated in six years.
Online students local to New Hampshire can enjoy winter sports, beautiful foliage, and nearby access to both charming small towns and major metro areas, such as Boston.
Below, you'll find a ranking of New Hampshire's best online programs, plus career and salary information.
The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
We use trusted sources like
Peterson's Data and
the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
#1 The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Manchester, NH - 4 years
- Campus
A quality online college education is available at University of New Hampshire at Manchester. Distance learners often choose to study at this school because of its experience with online education and reputation for academic quality.
The school hosts academic and career service specialists at its Manchester campus, which online learners can also take advantage of. Degree-seekers can connect with academic advisors and participate in virtual job fairs, helping set them up for scholastic and professional success. Many programs include an internship, helping students gain experience in their field. Graduates receive a fully accredited degree upon completing their program.
Ask the school directly for more information about online degree options and how to apply.
University of New Hampshire at Manchester at a Glance:
Online Student Enrollment: 238
Online Bachelor's Programs: Data not available
Online Master's Programs: Data not available
Percent of Programs Offered Online: Data not available
Admission Rate: 91%
Accepts Transfer Credits: Data not available
#2 The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Rivier University
Nashua, NH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Rivier University features online programming that ranks favorably among similar opportunities. The private institution makes 18 of its degrees available online, with offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Many distance learners choose to study at this school because of its track record in online education and reputation for academic quality.
The school hosts academic and career service specialists at its Nashua campus, which online learners can also take advantage of. Degree-seekers can get help planning their academic and professional futures with offerings such as academic advising and virtual career fairs. Internship programs give students the opportunity to develop tangible, real-world skills in their area of interest. The degree that graduates are awarded reflects the school's full accreditation.
Additional information about how to apply and what programs are available can be obtained by contacting the school directly.
Rivier University at a Glance:
Online Student Enrollment: 1,576
Online Bachelor's Programs: 8
Online Master's Programs: 6
Percent of Programs Offered Online: 25%
Admission Rate: 75%
Accepts Transfer Credits: Data not available
#3 The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Franklin Pierce University
Rindge, NH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Franklin Pierce University is a popular choice among those seeking a degree online. Students who enroll at the private institution can choose from 45 online offerings at undergraduate and graduate levels. Distance learners benefit from the school's track record in online education and its strong academic reputation.
Academic and career preparation services are available to all students, even those outside of the Rindge campus. These advisors facilitate career-planning events like virtual job fairs for interested degree-seekers. Hands-on experience through the school's internship programs also benefit many students. Program graduates receive a bachelor's degree with full accreditation upon completing all requirements.
Prospective applicants can get more information about online programs and application requirements from the school directly.
Franklin Pierce University at a Glance:
Online Student Enrollment: 598
Online Bachelor's Programs: 13
Online Master's Programs: 15
Percent of Programs Offered Online: 61%
Admission Rate: 66%
Accepts Transfer Credits: Data not available
#4 The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
New England College
Henniker, NH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
New England College is a fantastic choice for online learners. The private institution offers 33 online programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Distance learners appreciate the way the school brings its reputation for academic success to its online programming.
Online learners benefit from support by academic and career services offices at the school's Henniker campus. Online offerings by academic advisors and career-planning events like virtual job fairs help degree-seekers plan for success. Hands-on learning through internship programs help many students prepare for work in the field. The degree that graduates receive is fully accredited.
Additional information about how to apply and what programs are available can be obtained by contacting the school directly.
New England College at a Glance:
Online Student Enrollment: 2,145
Online Bachelor's Programs: 18
Online Master's Programs: 7
Percent of Programs Offered Online: 25%
Admission Rate: 100%
Accepts Transfer Credits: Data not available
#5 The Best Online Colleges in New Hampshire
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Southern New Hampshire University provides one of the best online college experiences available. Remote degrees at graduate and undergraduate levels are available to enrollees at this private school. The school has a track record in academic success through online coursework.
Career and academic service associates located at the Manchester campus also assist online learners. Degree-seekers benefit from virtual job fairs, career-planning services, and academic advising. The school also facilitates internships that help students gain real-world experience. The degree that graduates receive is fully accredited.
Anyone with additional questions is encouraged to contact the school directly.
Southern New Hampshire University at a Glance:
Online Student Enrollment: 106,762
Online Bachelor's Programs: 35
Online Master's Programs: 22
Percent of Programs Offered Online: 63%
Admission Rate: 88%
Accepts Transfer Credits: Data not available
Online Colleges in New Hampshire Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
Our Methodology
Here at TheBestSchools.org, we take the trust and welfare of our readers very seriously. When making our school and program rankings, our top priority is ensuring that our readers get accurate, unbiased information that can help them make informed decisions about online education. That's why we've developed a rigorous ranking methodology that keeps the needs of our readers front and center.
Our proprietary, multi-criteria ranking algorithm analyzes key data indicators — as collected by the federal government — for each school or program. What data we use depends on the focus of each specific ranking, but in all cases, our ranking methodology is impartial: Schools cannot buy better rankings at TBS.
While specific criteria under consideration can vary by ranking, there are a few data points that we value most highly. They are affordability, academic quality, and online enrollment. Below, we break down our algorithm to help you understand what you're getting when you use one of our rankings.
-
Academics -
Affordability -
Online Enrollment
Data Sources
The data used in TBS rankings comes primarily from the federal government, and much of it is provided by the schools themselves. We aggregate and analyze this data to build our rankings.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) is our primary source. Its data comes from annual surveys conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Every college, university, or technical school with access to federal financial aid must participate in these surveys, which include questions about enrollment, graduation rates, finances, and faculty qualifications. This is publicly available data, which you can access yourself through the College Navigator.
Additionally, because we value a personal touch and the professional experience of our staff and Academic Advisory Board, we vet all results and adjust rankings as necessary based on our collected knowledge of schools and degree programs. Depending on the ranking, we may obtain additional input from AcademicInfluence.com, subject matter experts, prior TBS ranking lists, or other sources we deem relevant to a particular ranking.
Breakdown of Our Rankings Methodology
About Our Ranking Factors
Here at TBS, we value what you value: quality education, affordability, and the accessibility of online education. These factors guide all of our program rankings.
Each of these factors are further broken down into weighted subfactors. For example, retention rates are weighted more heavily than availability of program options because they are a better indicator of student success.
We chose the following factors for our rankings because of their influence on learning experiences and graduate outcomes. However, students should always balance our rankings against their personal priorities. For instance, a learner who needs a fully online program may prioritize online flexibility more than our rankings do. Our rankings are designed to help you make a decision — not to make a decision for you.
Academics - 75%
Affordability - 15%
Online Enrollment - 10%
In all our school rankings and recommendations, we work for objectivity and balance. We carefully research and compile each ranking list, and as stated in our advertising disclosure, we do NOT permit financial incentives to influence rankings. Our articles never promote or disregard a school for financial gain.
If you have questions about our ranking methodology, please feel free to connect with our staff through contact page.
We thank you for your readership and trust.
Featured Online Programs
Employment in New Hampshire
The top industries in New Hampshire include advanced manufacturing, tourism, and healthcare. Tourists flocking to New Hampshire to enjoy autumn leaves and visit historic sites help support over 46,000 hospitality jobs in the state. The seacoast and Upper Valley — home to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center — feature major hubs for biomedical research.
Unemployment in New Hampshire has declined to near pre-pandemic levels as COVID-19-related restrictions ease. As of June 2021, unemployment stood at 2.9% — not far from 2019's low of 2.6%.
New Hampshire ranks among the 10 most highly educated states, as 37% of state residents have earned at least a bachelor's degree.
The cost of living in New Hampshire is somewhat above the national average, indexed at 105.4, with 100 as the average. However, New Hampshire charges no income or sales tax, meaning each paycheck stretches further. The mean annual wage in New Hampshire reached $56,730 as of May 2020, with top earners including physicians and architectural and engineering managers.
The following information explores the highest-paying roles employing more than 1,000 individuals in New Hampshire. Salary information applies specifically to New Hampshire, while job growth data pertains to the United States as a whole.
| Career | Annual Mean Wage (2020) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | Education Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians | $241,930 | 4% | Doctoral degree |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $158,100 | 3% | Bachelor's degree |
| Sales Managers | $156,460 | 4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $149,290 | 10% | Bachelor's degree |
| Marketing Managers | $139,860 | 7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Industrial Production Managers | $138,600 | 1% | Bachelor's degree |
| General and Operations Managers | $132,720 | 6% | Bachelor's degree |
The following data reflects the highest-paying roles employing more than 2,500 professionals in New Hampshire. Salary figures apply specifically to New Hampshire, while job growth data refers to the entire United States. Each role requires a bachelor's degree.
| Career | Annual Mean Wage (2020) | Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | Typical Major |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurses | $75,970 | 7% | Nursing |
| Software Developers | $109,670 | 22% | Information Technology |
| Wholesale Sales Representatives | $75,900 | 2% | Depends on industry: Biology, Chemistry, Engineering |
| Accountants and Auditors | $75,050 | 4% | Accounting |
| Project Management Specialists | $81,320 | 6% | Project Management |
| Financial Managers | $132,420 | 15% | Finance |
| Management Analysts | $100,170 | 11% | Depends on industry: Business, Computer Information Systems, Mathematics |
Online Associate Degrees
An online associate degree can prepare students to start entry-level careers or pursue bachelor's degrees. Most associate programs take two years to complete. Learners can apply transfer credits from most associate programs toward four-year bachelor's degrees. Many programs use asynchronous delivery, allowing students to complete materials at their own pace rather than attending classes at specific times.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities expanded their online degree offerings. New Hampshire's colleges and universities feature hundreds of unique online associate degree programs. Plus, with 16 New Hampshire colleges belonging to the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, students can be rest assured that degrees earned online will receive national and international recognition.
Popular online options include business administration, accounting, and criminal justice. The state also offers niche sectors, including data analytics and digital photography. Graduates with degrees in marketing and healthcare administration can work in New Hampshire's booming hospitality and healthcare industries.
Online Graduate Degrees
Looking to further your career and earn an advanced degree from the comfort of your home? An online graduate program might be right for you. Many of New Hampshire's colleges offer fully online and hybrid master's programs and doctoral degrees. Hybrid programs require occasional visits to campus for some courses or labs, while learners can complete 100% online programs from anywhere with a laptop and an internet connection.
Unlike on-campus courses, faculty deliver many virtual courses asynchronously, which may offer a good fit for people seeking degrees while continuing to work. Additionally, some online programs offer reduced tuition or accelerated pathways.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many institutes transitioned to online learning. Today's online learners benefit from expanded course and degree offerings. However, some degrees require in-person attendance for required labs or clinicals. Research your field's requirements before pursuing an online degree.
Popular graduate degrees include master of business administration and human resources management degrees. Thanks to New Hampshire's growing biomedical research and advanced manufacturing fields, individuals looking to pursue master's degrees in data science or operation and supply chain management will find plenty of opportunities. Several schools in the state offer these programs online.
Common Questions About Studying in New Hampshire
Is Online College Cheaper in New Hampshire?
Tuition is often the same between in-person and online programs, though some colleges don't charge out-of-state tuition to online learners. Students may save on course materials and fees.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Online Degree in New Hampshire?
Most associate degrees take two years to complete, while bachelor's degrees take four years. However, learners can complete some online undergraduate and graduate degrees at an accelerated pace.
What Is the Most Popular Degree in New Hampshire?
The most popular bachelor's degrees in New Hampshire are in the fields of science and engineering, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Business degrees are also common.
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