UNH Today

The University of New Hampshire remains one of the best value public universities in the country and the top value public university in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report.

For the second consecutive year, UNH was ranked the No. 7 “Best Value” public university in the country (and No. 56 best value among all universities) according to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report Best College rankings. It is also the fourth consecutive year that UNH has been ranked the No. 1 best value public university in New England.

“UNH exemplifies the power of a public research university, and we are incredibly proud to offer our students experiences that set us apart both regionally and nationally,” says UNH President Elizabeth Chilton. “Value, access and impact of higher education have never been more important than they are right now, and we continue to make an unwavering commitment to student success while they are here and beyond — our goal is lifelong success for our alumni.”

That ethos is centered around an approach that combines high-quality education with affordability, opening the doors to success at UNH and after graduation. UNH students receive access to a variety of innovative programs and offerings, like the new Hamel Honors & Scholars College, which debuted this fall to provide a community for academically motivated students who want to take their college education to a higher level. Students can also take advantage of diverse research opportunities thanks to UNH’s status as an R1 research institution, which puts it in the top tier of research universities nationwide.

UNH has made those offerings and more accessible to as many students as possible by focusing on affordability – 95% of first-year students receive scholarships and/or need-based aid, with more than $200 million in scholarships and need-based aid awarded annually. New Hampshire residents can also take advantage of the Granite Guarantee, which ensures that any Pell-eligible New Hampshire undergraduate and graduate from the Community College System of New Hampshire will pay no tuition to attend UNH. All of that has helped UNH recruit what is shaping up to the most diverse incoming class since at least 2013.

UNH graduates continue to find success beyond campus, as well, with 94% of 2023 graduates employed or seeking further education within a year of graduating. That class had 73% of students employed within 12 months of graduation and another 21% seeking further education. Additionally, the significant majority of employed graduates — 82% — reported that their job was directly or somewhat related to their major.

“UNH offers a truly transformative educational experience, and our focus remains squarely on making that accessible to as many students as possible,” says Kimberly DeRego, vice president of enrollment management. “Our students are accomplishing incredible things, on campus and in our communities, and we will continue to foster an environment where everyone can get the absolute most out of their time here.”