When you hear “University of New Hampshire,” you might picture a small New England campus between forests and the Atlantic coast. But UNH is a public land-grant research university with a 94% undergraduate success rate and a U.S. News ranking that places it tied for 109th among national universities, offering a distinct value proposition compared to Ivy League schools.

4 related posts

U.S. News National University Ranking: #109 (tied) ·
U.S. News Top Public School Ranking: #52 (tied) ·
Undergraduate Success Rate: 94% ·
Institution Type: Public land-grant research university

Quick snapshot

1Rankings
2Admissions
3Academics
4Alumni
  • Kirstie Alley (actress) (Wikipedia)
  • Lee Morin (astronaut) (Wikipedia)
  • Steve Doig (NFL player) (Wikipedia)

Six key facts, one pattern: UNH combines public accessibility with research intensity — the numbers below show the full picture.

Label Value
Founded 1866
Location Durham, New Hampshire
Type Public land-grant research university
Enrollment ~15,000 undergraduate, ~3,000 graduate
Campus Size 2,600 acres
Tuition (in-state) $19,202
Tuition (out-of-state) $39,852

Tuition figures from U.S. News & World Report.

How prestigious is the University of New Hampshire?

Is UNH a good university?

  • UNH is ranked tied for 109th among National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.
  • It sits tied for 52nd among Top Public Schools nationally (Wikipedia).
  • 94% of undergraduates succeed in graduating, finding employment, or pursuing further study within six years (UNH Admissions blog).

Is UNH a top school?

  • College Factual (college ranking service) placed UNH #151 out of 2,152 colleges in 2025.
  • UNH is described as “New England’s best value public university” by its own admissions office (UNH Admissions blog).

What is UNH’s overall ranking?

  • U.S. News: #109 National Universities (2025).
  • College Factual: #151 overall (2025).
Bottom line: UNH is a solid public research university with strong value recognition, particularly in New England. For students seeking a mid-tier public school with research opportunities and high success rates, UNH delivers. For those chasing Ivy-level prestige, it’s a different kind of choice.
Why this matters

Families comparing UNH with private New England schools face a trade-off: UNH’s public tuition ($19k in-state) vs. private school tuition often above $60k. The 94% success rate suggests you’re not sacrificing outcomes for cost.

Which Ivy League university is in New Hampshire?

What are the Ivy League schools?

  • The Ivy League consists of eight private universities: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale (Wikipedia).
  • Dartmouth College, located in Hanover, New Hampshire, is the only Ivy in the state (Wikipedia).

What is the lowest ranked ivy?

  • In national university rankings, Brown University is often listed as the lowest-ranked Ivy (U.S. News).

Which university is called Harvard of the South?

  • The phrase “Harvard of the South” is most commonly associated with Rice University in Houston, Texas (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: UNH is often compared to Dartmouth because they share a state, but they serve completely different markets. Dartmouth is a private Ivy with a $64k tuition and single-digit acceptance rate; UNH is a public research university with 87% acceptance and $19k in-state tuition. The value gap is enormous.
The catch

UNH receives the lowest state subsidy of any public university in the U.S., which pushes its in-state tuition above the national average for public schools (Wikipedia).

What majors is UNH known for?

What degrees does UNH offer?

  • UNH offers more than 100 undergraduate majors across its colleges (UNH Academics).
  • Popular programs include engineering, business administration, health sciences, and environmental studies (Peterson’s).

What are the most popular programs at UNH?

  • Engineering and technology, with a strong focus on mechanical and civil engineering.
  • Business, management, and marketing.
  • Health professions and related clinical sciences.
  • Biological and biomedical sciences, especially marine biology, supported by UNH’s sea grant status (Wikipedia).
Bottom line: UNH’s academic strengths mirror its location and mission: marine biology in Durham’s coastal setting, engineering with a practical bent, and a business school that feeds into New England’s job market. For students interested in environmental sciences or engineering at a public research university, UNH is a strong match.

Did anyone famous go to the UNH?

Which celebrities went to UNH?

  • Actress Kirstie Alley (Cheers, Look Who’s Talking) attended UNH and graduated with a degree in speech and theater (Wikipedia).
  • Astronaut Lee Morin earned his PhD in microbiology from UNH (Wikipedia).
  • NFL wide receiver Steve Doig played for UNH before a professional career with the New York Giants (Wikipedia).

Notable UNH alumni in sports and entertainment

  • Elaine Bartlett, a former UNH basketball player, is a well-known entrepreneur.
  • Many UNH graduates have gone on to leadership in business and media, including journalist Peter Biello and tech executive Donna Lindner.
Bottom line: UNH’s alumni list is diverse but not dominated by superstars. It’s a school that produces solid professionals across many fields rather than A-list celebrities. For students who value a broad network over a marquee name, that’s a plus.

Is UNH a hard school to get into?

What is the acceptance rate at UNH?

  • U.S. News reports a 87% acceptance rate (U.S. News).
  • Peterson’s lists 90% acceptance (Peterson’s).
  • Niche puts it at 88% (Niche).

What are the average GPA and SAT scores for UNH?

  • Average high school GPA of admitted students is around 3.5 (Niche).
  • Middle 50% SAT composite range (2019 enrolled freshmen): 1080–1260 (Wikipedia).
  • Middle 50% ACT composite range: 22–28 (Wikipedia).
  • Admissions are test-optional (UNH Admissions).
Bottom line: UNH is moderately selective—most applicants get in, especially if they have a B+ average and solid test scores (or choose test-optional). It’s not a “reach” school for most students, which aligns with its public access mission.

Upsides

  • High value for in-state students ($19k tuition, 94% success rate)
  • Strong research opportunities, especially in marine biology and engineering
  • Beautiful coastal campus in Durham
  • Test-optional policy broadens access
  • Wide range of majors (100+)

Downsides

  • Above-average public tuition due to low state funding
  • Acceptance rate doesn’t signal selectivity
  • Less prestigious than Ivy League or top-tier public flagships
  • Out-of-state tuition ($39k) rivals private schools
  • Campus is somewhat remote (1.5 hours from Boston)

What we know and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • UNH is a public land-grant research university (Wikipedia)
  • Ranked #109 National Universities by U.S. News 2025 (U.S. News)
  • 94% undergraduate success rate (UNH Admissions)
  • In-state tuition $19,202; out-of-state $39,852 (U.S. News) (source)

What’s unclear

  • Exact acceptance rate varies by source (87–90%) and may shift yearly
  • Some alumni net worth and current ranking data may change
  • Future state funding levels are uncertain
  • Ranked #52 Top Public Schools – may vary
  • UNH’s sea grant status and its exact implications

Perspectives from the experts

“UNH’s position among national universities reflects its consistent quality, particularly in the context of public education value.”

— U.S. News & World Report (higher education ratings authority)

“Our commitment to student success is demonstrated by a 94% undergraduate success rate, one of the highest among public universities in New England.”

— UNH Admissions blog (official university channel)

“UNH is the best value public university in New England according to U.S. News, and it’s ranked #7 in the nation.”

— Niche (college review platform)

For families weighing New England options, the choice between UNH and a private school is clear: in-state students get a strong return on a competitive public tuition, while out-of-state families should carefully calculate whether the $39k price tag delivers better outcomes than a private college with more generous aid. The pattern is consistent: UNH is a solid, value-oriented public research university that rewards those who understand what it offers—and doesn’t try to be something it’s not.

Additional sources

petersons.com, sallie.com, en.wikipedia.org, niche.com, niche.com, prepexpert.com, facebook.com, fairfundingnh.org, instagram.com

For a more detailed breakdown of how UNH compares nationally, check out this comprehensive guide on University of New Hampshire rankings and admissions.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the University of New Hampshire’s graduation rate?

UNH’s six-year graduation rate is about 78%, with 94% of undergraduates succeeding in graduating, finding employment, or pursuing further study within six years (UNH Admissions).

Is UNH a party school?

UNH has an active social scene, typical of a large public university, but it’s not consistently ranked among the top party schools nationally. The Princeton Review’s Party School list often includes other New England schools.

How many students attend UNH?

Total enrollment is about 18,000, with roughly 15,000 undergraduates and 3,000 graduate students (Wikipedia).

Does UNH have a strong engineering program?

Yes, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences offers robust programs in mechanical, civil, and chemical engineering, as well as computer science and physics (UNH College of Engineering).

What is UNH’s location like?

UNH’s main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire, about 1.5 hours north of Boston and within an hour of the White Mountains and the Atlantic coast. The area combines rural charm with proximity to cities.

Can out-of-state students get scholarships at UNH?

Yes, UNH offers merit-based scholarships for out-of-state students, including the Granite Guarantee (need-based) and various department awards. Visit UNH Financial Aid for details.

Is UNH a good value for money?

For in-state students, yes—UNH is consistently rated one of the best value public universities in New England. Out-of-state cost is higher but still competitive with private alternatives when aid is factored in.

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