Business Schools in New Hampshire
“Live Free or Die”—is there anything more quintessentially American than New Hampshire’s ultimatum of a state motto? The first of the colonies to establish a government independent of Great Britain in January 1776, New Hampshire was one of the original 13 United States and the ninth to ratify the US constitution. Only the 46th largest state by landmass, New Hampshire packs a lot of exciting topography into its borders, from the Atlantic Ocean along its small southeastern coast to the top of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the US northeast and known as the home of the “worst weather in the world.” Like other older states, New Hampshire’s economy has evolved over the decades due to the decline of the textiles and manufacturing industries. Still, it is now diverse, ranging from agriculture to tourism and technology.
New Hampshire is a relatively small state. National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) statistics show 11 public and non-profit schools that grant undergraduate business degrees in the state, of which six are accredited. We always recommend choosing an accredited business school program; this provides you with the assurance that the program you select has clear objectives and produces quality outcomes while adhering to national and international standards. Accredited schools also typically offer a richer educational experience by providing interaction with real businesses.
All of the schools in this article have been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP), and International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). They are all public or non-profit and regionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).
In this article, you will find all the essential data you need to help you choose the New Hampshire business school that best suits your unique needs, based on various key factors, including tuition, financial aid, entrance exam scores, acceptance rates, and more. The sections that follow describe undergraduate programs and job prospects for business school graduates in New Hampshire.
Undergraduate Business Schools in New Hampshire
While New Hampshire may not have many business schools, it has some of the best, which is (of course) reflected in tuition costs. Most notably, Hanover is home to Dartmouth College—one of the Ivy League schools—and its Tuck School of Business is a perennial top 10 finisher in US business school rankings. Getting into this school is difficult, and the tuition of $51,438 is substantial, though generous financial aid of over $40,000 is available. Three of the other six schools are also up there, cost-wise: $39,450 at Colby-Sawyer College, $34,050 at Franklin Pierce University, and $31,136 at Southern New Hampshire University. There are two lower-cost options, but they are still considerably more expensive than budget choices in other states: the University of New Hampshire at $17,624 and Plymouth State University at $13,472.
Acceptance rates in New Hampshire are excellent except for Dartmouth College. The other five schools have an average acceptance rate of 83%, with the lowest 76% at the University of New Hampshire and the highest 93% at Southern New Hampshire University. The Tuck School is highly selective and admits only 11% of applicants. The best combination of acceptance rate and the graduation rate is at the University of New Hampshire, with 76% and 78% figures.
The table below shows you all the essential data you need about undergraduate business schools in New Hampshire, including annual in-state tuition costs, average aid per student, acceptance rates, SAT and ACT score ranges of accepted students, and graduation rates. Click any column header to sort the table based on its contents.
| School | City | Tuition | Aid | Median SAT | Median ACT | Accept. Rate | Grad. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby-Sawyer College | New London | $39,450 | $28,983 | 87% | 59% | ||
| Dartmouth College | Hanover | $51,438 | $40,810 | 1350-1560 | 30-34 | 11% | 97% |
| Franklin Pierce University | Rindge | $34,050 | $19,106 | 870-1070 | 17-20 | 81% | 43% |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth | $13,472 | $8,196 | 79% | 55% | ||
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester | $31,136 | $4,289 | 93% | 56% | ||
| University of New Hampshire | Durham | $17,624 | $12,006 | 990-1200 | 22-27 | 76% | 78% |
Job Outlook for Business School Graduates in New Hampshire
From 2016 to 2026, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data predicts total growth of at least 5% in 32 of 37 business and management occupations across the US. The highest growth will be for market analysts and marketing specialists, at 22.8% over ten years, with financial managers coming in second at 18.7%.
New Hampshire features an extremely robust economy with many opportunities and low unemployment: its current rate is just 2.7%, a full third below the already down 4.0% of the US as a whole. About 48,800 people were employed in the business and management sector in New Hampshire in 2016. The largest subgroup, by far, was general and operations managers, with 12,040 employed, well ahead of the next largest subgroup, accountants and auditors at 5,040.
According to BLS data, New Hampshire ranked 8th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for the overall average annual wage across all occupations in 2016 at $70,936, well above the national average of $57,617. Business and management occupations had a weighted yearly average wage of around $102,000 that year. Chief executives were the highest-paid category at $187,000, and most management positions fell between $90,000 and $150,000. The lowest-paid of the groups was tax preparers at $39,670.
| Occupation Title | BLS.gov Code | 2016 Total Employment New Hampshire | Mean Hourly Wage New Hampshire | Mean Annual Wage New Hampshire | National Growth 2016-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors | 13-2011 | 5,040 | $35 | $72,360 | 8.0% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 11-3011 | 1,000 | $46 | $96,420 | 9.1% |
| Advertising and Promotions Managers | 11-2011 | 50 | $42 | $87,890 | 5.8% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 11-9041 | 1,410 | $73 | $150,790 | 7.4% |
| Budget Analysts | 13-2031 | 90 | $34 | $71,540 | 10.4% |
| Business Operations Specialists | 13-1199 | 2,510 | $33 | $68,220 | 10.1% |
| Chief Executives | 11-1011 | 760 | $90 | $187,260 | 11.9% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 11-3111 | 60 | $58 | $120,680 | 0.187 |
| Compensation, and Benefits Specialists | 13-1141 | 260 | $31 | $65,310 | 5.6% |
| Compliance Officers | 13-1041 | 1,450 | $33 | $67,670 | 5.0% |
| Construction Managers | 11-9021 | 1,030 | $45 | $93,260 | 8.9% |
| Cost Estimators | 13-1051 | 940 | $33 | $68,210 | 10.3% |
| Credit Analysts | 13-2041 | 170 | $39 | $80,420 | 11.4% |
| Credit Counselors | 13-2071 | 310 | $25 | $51,450 | 5.5% |
| Financial Analysts | 13-2051 | 900 | $38 | $79,030 | 4.9% |
| Financial Examiners | 13-2061 | 150 | $45 | $93,920 | 8.2% |
| Financial Managers | 11-3031 | 3,420 | $58 | $120,060 | 10.6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 11-1021 | 12,040 | $60 | $125,620 | 7.1% |
| Human Resources Managers | 11-3121 | 620 | $56 | $116,240 | -7.8% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 13-1071 | 2,280 | $30 | $61,580 | 6.9% |
| Information Systems Managers | 11-3021 | 2,100 | $66 | $138,220 | 12.0% |
| Insurance Underwriters | 13-2053 | 220 | $39 | $81,130 | 10.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 13-1075 | 150 | $32 | $67,270 | 8.5% |
| Loan Officers | 13-2072 | 1,120 | $44 | $90,720 | 11.5% |
| Logisticians | 13-1081 | 680 | $35 | $72,540 | 22.8% |
| Management Analysts | 13-1111 | 2,160 | $47 | $98,030 | 8.8% |
| Market Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 13-1161 | 2,130 | $33 | $68,500 | 10.0% |
| Marketing Managers | 11-2021 | 1,080 | $67 | $138,670 | 6.5% |
| Meeting and Event Planners | 13-1121 | 420 | $25 | $51,350 | 8.4% |
| Public Relations and Fundraising Managers | 11-2031 | 470 | $55 | $114,810 | 10.8% |
| Purchasing Managers | 11-3061 | 410 | $57 | $118,230 | -5.2% |
| Sales Managers | 11-2022 | 1,550 | $69 | $142,840 | 9.8% |
| Tax Examiners and Revenue Agents | 13-2081 | 330 | $27 | $55,510 | 13.9% |
| Tax Preparers | 13-2082 | 240 | $19 | $39,670 | 11.5% |
| Training and Development Managers | 11-3131 | 140 | $54 | $112,260 | -0.6% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 13-1151 | 1,100 | $32 | $65,980 | 10.8% |
Other Popular State Pages
- Business Schools in Maine
- Business Schools in Vermont
- Business Schools in Massachusetts
- Business Schools in New York
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics:https://nces.ed.gov/
2. AACSB, Best Business Schools:https://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/aacsb-accredited
3. ACBSP, Business Schools:https://www.acbsp.org/accreditation
4. IACBE, Business Schools:https://iacbe.org/accreditation/
5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook, Business and Financial Occupations: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm
6. US Bureau of Labor Statistics – Employment and Wage Estimates New Hampshire: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nh.htm
7. US News & World Report, Best Business Schools: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools