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PrivateSuburban

Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU

Manchester, New Hampshire 03106-1045

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Business-focusedLarge campusSuburban

Known for business — major research university

Southern New Hampshire University is a private institution in Manchester with particular strength in business and psychology.

A large campus of 156.8K undergraduates with a 24:1 student-faculty ratio. The suburban location offers a balance of campus life and nearby amenities.

45% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $50,318 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $33,742.

Established
1932
Motto
Summa optimaque
Mascot
Petey Penmen
Type
Private university
Division
Division II

Campus Visits

22 upcoming visits · Next: Fri, May 29 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

Admission Office

2500 North River Road, Manchester, NH 03106

(603) 645-9611[email protected]
96%Acceptance
SAT Avg
156,755Students
24:1Student:Faculty
45%Grad Rate
$50,318Earnings 10yr
$33,742Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate96.1%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions

Test-OptionalTracks InterestHolistic ReviewOn-Campus Interviews

Application Platforms

Common AppSNHU Application

Early Action

November 15

Regular Decision

rolling

Decision by rolling

Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships
Students receiving aid
90%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$16,450
Room & Board$12,800
Books & Supplies$1,500
Total Cost of Attendance$37,524
Average Net Price$33,742
Median Debt at Graduation$21,082
Monthly Payment (10yr)$224

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$33,202
$30–48K$32,903
$48–75K$34,048
$75–110K$35,992
$110K+$36,682

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

41.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

0.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$9,169

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

1113

Peer Average

240

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

24/7 campus police department, blue-light phone network, emergency mass notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

259

Burglary

52

Aggravated Assault

34

Robbery

86

Motor Vehicle Theft

125

Sex Offenses

8

Arson

314

Drug Arrests

235

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Semester
Majors
200
Avg class size
18
Student-faculty ratio
15:1

Programs (128)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

60%

Below Average

Campus Life

Campus size
300 acres
Organizations
75+
Varsity teams
18
NCAA Division IINortheast-10 ConferenceGreek Life

Housing & Residential Life

first-two-years
On campus
55%

Housing Styles

Traditional residence hallsSuite-style housingApartmentsTownhouses

Dining

Alumni Dining CenterThe MarketplaceQuiznosFreshensDietary Options

Student Body

Undergrads
156,755
Gender Split
63% / 37%
Women / Men
First Generation
48%
Pell Grant Recipients
47%

Race & Ethnicity

White 52%
Black 18%
Hispanic 14%
Asian 2%
Two+ 4%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate44.9%
Freshman Retention59.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,945
10 Years$50,318

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

After Graduation

Top Employers

Fidelity InvestmentsLiberty MutualCVS Health

Rankings

U.S. News
#131
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History 20th century The university was founded in 1932 by Harry A.
  • Shapiro died in 1952; 25 students were enrolled at that time, and his widow ran the school until 1971, continuing as president emerita until 1986.
  • In 1961, the school was incorporated and renamed the New Hampshire College of Accounting and Commerce.
  • The state of New Hampshire granted the college its charter in 1963, which gave it degree-granting authority.
  • The first associate degrees were awarded that year, and the first bachelor's degrees were conferred in 1966.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

111High

Estimated from NH state average + suburban adjustment

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675K
51 mi(88 min)
New Yorkpop. 8.3M
208 mi(361 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
287 mi(497 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MHT Manchester-Boston7 mi
BOS Boston Logan52 mi
PWM Portland Jetport71 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA51 mi · ~1h 28m drive
New York, NY208 mi · ~6h 1m drive
Hartford, CT108 mi · ~3h 7m drive
Providence, RI84 mi · ~2h 26m drive
Albany, NY120 mi · ~3h 28m drive
Syracuse, NY237 mi · ~6h 51m drive
Rochester, NY311 mi · ~8h 59m drive
Buffalo, NY376 mi · ~10h 52m drive
Philadelphia, PA287 mi · ~8h 17m drive
Pittsburgh, PA475 mi · ~13h 43m drive
Harrisburg, PA339 mi · ~9h 48m drive
Newark, NJ212 mi · ~6h 7m drive
Trenton, NJ259 mi · ~7h 29m drive
Central (cold winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Nearby Attractions

Downtown Manchester

New Hampshire's largest city with restaurants, museums, and entertainment

SNHU Arena

Major sports and concert venue in downtown Manchester

Currier Museum of Art

Art museum in downtown Manchester

White Mountains

Mountain region for hiking, skiing, and outdoor recreation, 90 minutes north

Transfer Admission

International Students

International students
12%
Countries
80

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL iBT71
IELTS6.0
Duolingo English Test100

Deadline Calendar

Southern New Hampshire University Application Checklist

Decision Notifications