Best College ROI in Nh 2026
14 colleges in Nh analyzed for return on investment. University of New Hampshire at Manchester leads with a ROI Score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY).
Nh has 14 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 5 public institutions and 9 private ones. Across the 14 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $25K and earn $77K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
86% of Nh colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at University of New Hampshire at Manchester (median $95K on Computer and Information Sciences, Other). The lowest median debt comes from University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online at $18K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Nh
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Nh's ROI rankings on its Computer and Information Sciences, Other program. Graduates earn a median $95K in their first year against $24K in median debt.
University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Computer and Information Sciences. Five-year median earnings: $147K.
Dartmouth College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Computer Science. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $20K.
Top 14 Colleges by ROI in Nh
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New Hampshire at Manchester(public) | Computer and Information Sciences, Other | $24K | $95K | A (97) |
| 2 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $18K | $95K | A (97) |
| 3 | Dartmouth College(private) | Computer Science | $20K | $95K | A (96) |
| 4 | Saint Anselm College(private) | Computer Science | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 5 | Southern New Hampshire University(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 6 | University of New Hampshire-Main Campus(public) | Computer and Information Sciences | $22K | $95K | A (95) |
| 7 | New England College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $35K | $95K | A (90) |
| 8 | Keene State College(public) | Quality Control and Safety Technologies | $25K | $65K | A (83) |
| 9 | Plymouth State University(public) | Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology | $22K | $65K | A (80) |
| 10 | Franklin Pierce University(private) | Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences | $27K | $62K | B (78) |
| 11 | Colby-Sawyer College(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $30K | $62K | B (77) |
| 12 | Rivier University(private) | Business Administration, Management and Operations | $28K | $65K | B (77) |
| 13 | Thomas More College of Liberal Arts(private) | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $27K | $45K | C (63) |
| 14 | Magdalen College(private) | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $29K | $45K | C (62) |
College debt and earnings data for Nh is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of New Hampshire at Manchester has the best ROI in Nh with a score of 97/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Computer and Information Sciences, Other, with $95K in first-year median earnings against $24K in median debt.
Across 14 Nh colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $25K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $77K.
University of New Hampshire at Manchester graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer and Information Sciences, Other). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Nh has 14 colleges in our database (5 public, 9 private). Of the 14 with reportable ROI, 86% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).