Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire 2026
Private colleges, unlike large public institutions, can be a great option for students wanting a more intimate campus experience, more personal attention from excellent professors, and more immediate access to support services. Here is our list of the best private colleges in New Hampshire.
Key Takeaways
- With smaller class sizes, the best private colleges in New Hampshire offer individualized support and mentorship from faculty, enhancing the learning experience.
- The colleges in our ranking foster tight-knit communities with diverse extracurricular activities, promoting student engagement and personal growth.
- Many of the best private colleges in New Hampshire provide rigorous academic programs and renowned faculty, fostering a challenging and enriching educational environment.
Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire in 2026
This guide identifies the top private, non-profit colleges in New Hampshire that confer bachelor’s degrees, focusing on institutions that are fully accredited and offer a broad undergraduate curriculum. The list is drawn from the set of 8 private universities in the state and is intended to help prospective students compare academic breadth, campus size, program strengths, and fit rather than provide a simple numeric ranking.
Use the entries below to evaluate each school on practical factors—program offerings, residential life, typical cohort size, and cost—so you can match institutional character to your academic and career objectives. Brief notes highlight distinguishing features that matter when choosing among private New Hampshire colleges for 2026.
Best Private Colleges in New Hampshire
- #20 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2026 #21 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2026 #24 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026 #1 Best Research Universities in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$72K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
95%
Student body
7K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for degree at Dartmouth College
Cost of Degree: $65,511Expenses: $22,054Starting Salary: $111,162Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Dartmouth College known for?
Dartmouth College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Literature
- Computer Science
- Political Science
- History
- Earth Sciences
- Medical
- Economics
- Mathematics
- Religious Studies
Most Influential Alumni
- #10 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2026 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #2 Most Affordable Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #3 Best Grad Schools in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
42%
Student body
255K
Career Outlook for degree at Southern New Hampshire University
Cost of Degree: $16,450Expenses: $24,000Starting Salary: $56,870Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Southern New Hampshire University known for?
Southern New Hampshire University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Criminal Justice
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Communications
- Political Science
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
Southern New Hampshire University’s Online Degrees
BA in Digital Photography
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Fashion Merchandising And Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Game Art And Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accounting
Degree Concentrations
- Forensic Accounting And Fraud Examination
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Accounting Finance
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Human Resources Management
- International Business
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Nonprofit Management
- Organizational Leadership
- Project Management
- Public Administration
- Sports Management
- Management Information Systems
- Healthcare Administration
- Industrial Organizational Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Data Analytics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Finance
Degree Concentrations
- Financial Planning
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Marketing
Degree Concentrations
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Operations Management
Degree Concentrations
- Logistics And Transportation
- Project Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sport Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Technical Management Ii
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Computer Information Systems
Degree Concentrations
- Data Validation And Decision Making
- Networking And Security
- Project Management
- Project Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Computer Science
Degree Concentrations
- Data Analysis
- Information Security
- Project Management
- Software Engineering
- Project Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Game Programming And Development
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Information Technologies
Degree Concentrations
- Business Management For It
- Cybersecurity
- Data Analytics
- Project Management For It
- Software Development
- Business Management For It
- Project Management For It
- Cybersecurity
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Information Technologies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Criminal Justice
Degree Concentrations
- Corrections
- Criminology
- Homeland Security And Counterterrorism
- Human Services And Advocacy
- Police Administration And Operations
- Substance Abuse
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Communication
Degree Concentrations
- New Media
- Professional Writing
- Business Communication
- Public Relations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Creative Writing And English
Degree Concentrations
- Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- Poetry
- Screenwriting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in English Language And Literature
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in General Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in History
Degree Concentrations
- American History
- European History
- Middle Eastern Studies
- Military History
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Human Services
Degree Concentrations
- Child And Family Services
- Gerontology
- Substance Abuse
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sociology
Degree Concentrations
- Community Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Community Health Education
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Health Information Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Health Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Health Information Management
- Patient Safety And Quality
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Psychology
Degree Concentrations
- Addictions
- Applied Psychology
- Child And Adolescent Development
- Mental Health
- Social Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Environmental Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Geosciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Mathematics
Degree Concentrations
- Applied Mathematics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #1 Best Christian Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #1 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #3 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026
Tuition + fees
$51K
Acceptance
78%
Graduation
80%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1194/27
Career Outlook for degree at Saint Anselm College
Cost of Degree: $46,810Expenses: $21,080Starting Salary: $83,058Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Saint Anselm College known for?
Saint Anselm College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Criminal Justice
- Communications
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Earth Sciences
- Law
- Sociology
- Economics
- Nursing
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #3 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #5 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$43K
Acceptance
92%
Graduation
38%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for degree at New England College
Cost of Degree: $27,114Expenses: $20,014Starting Salary: $47,863Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is New England College known for?
New England College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Education
- Business
- Economics
- Communications
- Philosophy
- Sociology
- Political Science
- History
- Psychology
Most Influential Alumni
New England College’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Business Administration
Degree Concentrations
- Management
- Computer Information Systems
- Human Resource Management
- Format: Fully online
BS in Human Resource Management
- Format: Fully online
BA in Criminal Justice
- Format: Fully online
BS in Cybersecurity
- Format: Fully online
BA in Homeland Security And Emergency Preparedness
- Format: Fully online
BS in Human Services
- Format: Fully online
BA in Humanities
- Format: Fully online
BA in International Relations And Diplomacy
- Format: Fully online
BS in Social Sciences
- Format: Fully online
BA in Sociology
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Format: Fully online
BA in Psychology
- Format: Fully online
- #6 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #9 Best Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$48K
Acceptance
93%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Franklin Pierce University
Cost of Degree: $44,963Expenses: $19,222Starting Salary: $64,588Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Franklin Pierce University known for?
Franklin Pierce University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Biology
- Criminal Justice
- Psychology
- Political Science
- Communications
- Literature
- Medical
- Business
- History
- Education
Most Influential Alumni
Franklin Pierce University’s Online Degrees
BS in Accounting-Finance
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Marketing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Sports And Recreation Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Criminal Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Human Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Integrated Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Custom
- General Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Integrated Studies- Social Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Emergency Medical Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BA in Emergency Medical Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BS in Healthcare Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
BSN in Nursing Rn To Bsn
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: 4 years
- Format: Fully online
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #5 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2026 #7 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$30K
Graduation
71%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for degree at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts
Cost of Degree: $29,300Expenses: $13,400Starting Salary: $41,534Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Thomas More College of Liberal Arts known for?
- #3 Best Christian Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #6 Best Grad Schools in New Hampshire 2026 #8 Best Small Colleges in New Hampshire 2026 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in New Hampshire 2026
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
83%
Graduation
56%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for degree at Rivier University
Cost of Degree: $37,791Expenses: $18,715Starting Salary: $72,105Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Rivier University known for?
Rivier University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
80%
Graduation
56%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for degree at Colby–Sawyer College
Cost of Degree: $18,400Expenses: $20,308Starting Salary: $61,214Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Colby–Sawyer College known for?
Colby–Sawyer College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
New Hampshire’s Best Private Colleges in Your Area Interest
2021 Ranking Archive
Many of our 2024 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2023. That’s because we took a fundamentally different approach. For 2024 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of private colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top private schools in every state.
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