Best Value Degrees in New Hampshire (2026)

Top 100 of 197 programs in New Hampshire · Updated 2026

The best college programs in New Hampshire, ranked by overall value. We scored 197 programs across New Hampshire schools on earnings, AI resilience, job demand, and tuition ROI. The top programs average $58,191/yr in graduate earnings.

Why a Commuter Campus in Manchester Beats the Ivy League

The University of New Hampshire at Manchester’s #1 spot isn't an accident; it’s a direct result of its design. As a career-focused campus in the state's largest city, it provides a direct pipeline into Manchester's growing tech and business sectors. Its Computer Science program delivers strong earnings ($75,156/yr) at a reasonable public university price, resulting in an exceptional 16.4x ROI that more prestigious schools can't match.

The Dartmouth Paradox: Highest Earnings, Lower Value

It's shocking to see an Ivy League powerhouse like Dartmouth College ranked at #9, especially when its CS grads earn a staggering $132,919/yr. The reason is simple math: with a four-year tuition over a quarter-million dollars, the return on investment is drastically lower (6.3x) than at more affordable public options. This highlights a core lesson of our value rankings—prestige and high salaries don't always translate to the best financial outcome when staggering costs are factored in.

Don't Fear the Robot: How AI is Reshaping Tech and Nursing Careers

The high "AI Risk" for tech degrees (59-62%) doesn't mean your job will disappear; it means the job is changing. AI is automating the routine coding that junior developers used to do, so your value will come from system architecture and strategic thinking, not just executing tasks. For nursing (43% risk), AI is an assistant, handling paperwork and data analysis to free you up for the hands-on patient care and critical thinking that can't be automated.

The Public vs. Private Divide: Two Paths to a Top-Tier Degree

New Hampshire’s top programs are split evenly between public and private schools, but they offer two very different value propositions. Public institutions like the UNH system and Keene State dominate the top of the list by offering strong career outcomes with moderate tuition, maximizing ROI. Meanwhile, private schools like SNHU compete on value, while others like Dartmouth and Saint Anselm offer elite earnings but at a much higher price tag, forcing a choice between maximum financial return and other factors like prestige or campus environment.

Programs in NH

197

Avg Earnings (Top 100)

$58,191/yr

Avg DW Score

62/100

#1 Program

Information Sciences

University of New Hampshire at Manchester

Top Institutions

Leading the field for Best Degrees in New Hampshire

The top four programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Full ranking of 100 programs below.

Rank #1 · DegreeOutlook Score 86

Information Sciences

University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH · Public

Southern New Hampshire University · NH · #2

$85,600/yr · 13.5x ROI

Information Sciences

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · NH · #3

$75,156/yr · 13.4x ROI

Computer Engineering

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · NH · #4

$88,904/yr · 14.7x ROI

The Ranking Matrix

Top Programs in New Hampshire

Top 100 programs by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full analysis.

Sort by

#	Program	DW Score	Earnings	AI Risk	ROI
1	Information Sciences University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	86 79–87	$75,156/yr	Very High	16.4x
2	Nursing Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	85 82–85	$85,600/yr	High	13.5x
3	Information Sciences University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	84 77–85	$75,156/yr	Very High	13.4x
4	Computer Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	83 76–84	$88,904/yr	Very High	14.7x
5	Nursing Keene State College · Keene, NH	83 80–82	$74,915/yr	High	13.2x
6	Nursing Colby-Sawyer College · New London, NH	82 78–81	$78,856/yr	High	11.0x
7	Economics Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	81 77–82	$69,807/yr	Very High	16.2x
8	Nursing Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	80 77–79	$72,906/yr	High	11.7x
9	Computer Science Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	79 74–81	$132,919/yr	Very High	6.3x
10	Nursing University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	79 76–79	$77,271/yr	High	9.8x
11	Economics Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	76 71–77	$94,675/yr	Very High	4.8x
12	Nursing Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	76 73–76	$76,016/yr	High	4.4x
13	Information Sciences Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	76 70–77	$61,322/yr	Very High	10.9x
14	Finance Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	76 74–77	$50,006/yr	Very High	13.4x
15	Information Sciences Keene State College · Keene, NH	75 70–76	$48,003/yr	Very High	13.8x
16	Nursing Saint Anselm College · Manchester, NH	75 72–75	$79,609/yr	High	4.0x
17	Nursing Rivier University · Nashua, NH	74 71–74	$74,292/yr	High	4.6x
18	Business Administration University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	73 67–73	$57,015/yr	High	10.3x
19	Accounting Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	73 69–74	$54,209/yr	Very High	11.0x
20	Accounting Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	72 69–74	$54,898/yr	Very High	9.8x
21	Finance Saint Anselm College · Manchester, NH	72 70–74	$62,821/yr	Very High	4.2x
22	Business Administration Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	71 65–71	$60,136/yr	High	9.8x
23	Management Science Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	71 67–72	$76,718/yr	Very High	10.7x
24	Electrical Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	71 67–72	$81,981/yr	Very High	12.2x
25	Economics University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	71 66–72	$54,328/yr	Very High	10.0x
26	Health and Medical Administrative Services University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	70 65–71	$50,110/yr	High	9.6x
27	Business Administration Colby-Sawyer College · New London, NH	69 63–70	$54,304/yr	High	9.2x
28	Chemical Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	68 66–70	$71,599/yr	High	12.1x
29	Mechanical Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	68 65–69	$70,865/yr	Very High	11.3x
30	Computer Science Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	67 61–69	$71,764/yr	Very High	9.9x
31	Information Sciences Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	67 61–68	$65,516/yr	Very High	10.3x
32	Business Saint Anselm College · Manchester, NH	67 62–67	$60,054/yr	High	3.6x
33	Public Policy Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	66 63–67	$73,129/yr	High	10.1x
34	Finance Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	66 63–67	$63,703/yr	Very High	8.7x
35	Business Administration University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online · Manchester, NH	66 60–66	$51,854/yr	High	15.6x
36	Health and Medical Administrative Services Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	65 59–66	$50,619/yr	High	8.4x
37	Civil Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	65 64–67	$67,035/yr	High	9.9x
38	Quality Control & Safety Technology Keene State College · Keene, NH	65 63–66	$63,479/yr	High	12.9x
39	Marketing Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	65 59–66	$46,649/yr	Very High	12.8x
40	International Business Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	64 58–65	$56,320/yr	Very High	8.3x
41	Business Administration Keene State College · Keene, NH	64 58–65	$47,847/yr	High	9.4x
42	Computer Science Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	64 57–65	$59,203/yr	Very High	9.2x
43	Business Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	63 59–63	$41,714/yr	High	10.1x
44	Political Science Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	62 58–63	$72,618/yr	Very High	2.8x
45	Health and Medical Administrative Services New England College · Henniker, NH	62 57–63	$50,213/yr	High	3.5x
46	Criminal Justice Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	62 52–62	$45,836/yr	Moderate	9.2x
47	Business University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	61 56–62	$57,378/yr	High	8.1x
48	History Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	60 55–60	$61,127/yr	High	2.6x
49	Mathematics Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	60 55–62	$51,396/yr	Very High	9.6x
50	Environmental Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	60 57–61	$62,190/yr	Very High	9.5x
51	Business University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	60 55–61	$57,378/yr	High	6.5x
52	Engineering Science Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	59 56–60	$89,929/yr	High	2.8x
53	Health and Medical Administrative Services Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	59 54–60	$66,556/yr	High	2.7x
54	Management Information Systems Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	59 53–61	$86,882/yr	Very High	12.2x
55	Marketing Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	59 53–60	$45,472/yr	Very High	9.4x
56	Accounting Saint Anselm College · Manchester, NH	59 56–61	$60,830/yr	Very High	2.2x
57	Specialized Sales & Marketing Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	57 54–57	$41,181/yr	High	7.8x
58	Criminal Justice Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	57 46–57	$39,171/yr	Moderate	9.3x
59	Business Administration Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	57 51–57	$40,902/yr	High	8.3x
60	Mathematics Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	56 51–57	$108,255/yr	Very High	3.1x
61	Business Administration Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	56 50–57	$48,700/yr	High	2.7x
62	Subject-Area Teaching Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	56 58–57	$44,738/yr	High	6.3x
63	Social Sciences Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	56 56–57	$42,932/yr	High	7.8x
64	Biology University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	56 53–57	$45,346/yr	High	10.6x
65	Accounting Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	55 54–57	$45,356/yr	Very High	2.6x
66	Subject-Area Teaching Keene State College · Keene, NH	55 59–57	$42,492/yr	High	7.4x
67	Criminal Justice Keene State College · Keene, NH	55 44–55	$42,053/yr	Moderate	8.3x
68	Public Relations & Advertising Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	54 51–55	$46,520/yr	High	7.6x
69	Biology University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	54 51–55	$45,346/yr	High	8.6x
70	Genetics University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	54 49–55	$51,693/yr	High	9.5x
71	Teacher Education Keene State College · Keene, NH	54 62–55	$41,564/yr	High	7.6x
72	Political Science University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	54 50–55	$38,435/yr	Very High	9.9x
73	Business Administration Rivier University · Nashua, NH	54 49–55	$39,453/yr	High	3.6x
74	Biomedical Engineering University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	53 50–54	$76,755/yr	High	9.0x
75	Biochemistry University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	53 50–53	$47,236/yr	High	9.1x
76	Mechanical Engineering Technology University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	53 53–53	$64,826/yr	Moderate	9.2x
77	Parks University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	52 48–53	$38,201/yr	Moderate	6.3x
78	Political Science University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	52 48–53	$38,435/yr	Very High	8.0x
79	Biology Keene State College · Keene, NH	52 48–52	$43,624/yr	High	9.6x
80	Mathematics & Statistics Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	51 45–52	$102,938/yr	Very High	2.9x
81	Criminal Justice New England College · Henniker, NH	51 41–51	$45,575/yr	Moderate	2.8x
82	Mechanical Engineering Technology University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	51 51–52	$64,826/yr	Moderate	7.5x
83	Communication and Media Studies University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	51 44–52	$43,551/yr	High	10.0x
84	Subject-Area Teaching Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	51 57–52	$41,035/yr	High	6.8x
85	Business Administration New England College · Henniker, NH	50 44–50	$45,086/yr	High	2.3x
86	Teacher Education Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	50 58–51	$41,015/yr	High	6.0x
87	Mental Health Services Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	50 52–51	$43,886/yr	Moderate	5.7x
88	Public Health Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	50 46–50	$45,910/yr	High	6.0x
89	Hospitality Management Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	50 42–50	$37,829/yr	High	7.5x
90	Software Development Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	49 48–50	$40,882/yr	Very High	5.2x
91	Natural Resources Management and Policy University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	49 46–49	$41,681/yr	High	4.5x
92	Communication and Media Studies University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	49 41–50	$43,551/yr	High	8.1x
93	Hospitality Management University of New Hampshire-Main Campus · Durham, NH	49 41–50	$36,590/yr	High	6.7x
94	Architecture Keene State College · Keene, NH	49 51–51	$43,448/yr	High	10.1x
95	Homeland Security University of New Hampshire at Manchester · Manchester, NH	49 41–49	$51,200/yr	Moderate	7.1x
96	Teacher Education Plymouth State University · Plymouth, NH	49 59–50	$39,646/yr	High	7.0x
97	Sociology Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH	48 44–49	$64,377/yr	High	1.8x
98	Criminal Justice Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	48 38–49	$39,031/yr	Moderate	2.6x
99	Marketing Franklin Pierce University · Rindge, NH	48 42–49	$47,445/yr	Very High	2.5x
100	Liberal Arts & Humanities Southern New Hampshire University · Manchester, NH	48 49–48	$55,339/yr	Low	8.4x

FAQ

Frequently asked

What is the best college program in New Hampshire?

By DegreeOutlook Score, Information Sciences at University of New Hampshire at Manchester ranks #1 in New Hampshire with a score of 86/100 and graduate earnings of $75,156/yr.

How many college programs are in New Hampshire?

Our database includes 197 programs across New Hampshire colleges with reported earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education.