State cost ranking · DOE College Scorecard

Cheapest Colleges in New Hampshire

Private campuses outnumber public ones on this New Hampshire list (14 vs 11); Empire Beauty School-Somersworth still leads on average net price at $9,170.

$9,170
Cheapest net price
$18,489
New Hampshire median
25
Schools ranked

Empire Beauty School-Somersworth has the lowest average net price in New Hampshire among Scorecard reporters

According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, Empire Beauty School-Somersworth posts the lowest average net price in New Hampshire at $9,170 among 25 ranked schools, with the state median 8% above the $17,124 national median. Net price is what students paid after grant aid, not sticker tuition, and can reflect a narrow enrollment mix at specialty schools.

Data source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard

Cheapest net price
$9,170
New Hampshire median
$18,489
Schools ranked
25
National median
$17,124

Data updated August 2026 · IPEDS 2022–23 vintage

The list in one line

Empire Beauty School-Somersworth has the lowest average net price in New Hampshire at $9,170/year, and the state's median net price is 8% above the $17,124 national median across 4,965 schools.

$9,170
cheapest ranked net price
$18,489
New Hampshire median net price
11 public / 14 private
schools in this ranking
$16,908
avg net price, <$30K income families

Average net price blends every income bracket; families under $30k average $16,908 here. Loans are excluded, open a school profile for the bracket table before treating one average as a personal cost.

Sticker tuition and real net price diverge most at Dartmouth College, where in-state published tuition of $68,268 falls to an average net price of $29,519 after aid, a $38,749 gap, the widest sticker-to-net gap among ranked New Hampshire schools.

Private campuses outnumber public ones here (14 vs 11). A low figure at a small religious or specialty school can reflect a narrow enrollment mix, check sector and enrollment beside the price.

Every ranked New Hampshire school is listed below. Here is how their average net prices spread:

New Hampshire net-price distribution

Average net price after aid · 25 Scorecard-reporting schools

$42,740 more affordable than 0% of 25 New Hampshire colleges

Show national distribution $0–$5,000: 0 New Hampshire colleges (0%). Below this entry. $5,000–$10,000: 2 New Hampshire colleges (8%). Below this entry. $10,000–$15,000: 6 New Hampshire colleges (24%). Below this entry. $15,000–$20,000: 6 New Hampshire colleges (24%). Below this entry. $20,000–$25,000: 2 New Hampshire colleges (8%). Below this entry. $25,000–$30,000: 6 New Hampshire colleges (24%). Below this entry. $30,000–$35,000: 1 New Hampshire colleges (4%). Below this entry. $35,000–$40,000: 1 New Hampshire colleges (4%). Below this entry. $40,000–$45,000: 1 New Hampshire colleges (4%). This entry sits in this band. State median band $0 $45,000 every ranked New Hampshire college, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $5K-wide band; taller bars hold more New Hampshire colleges. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard · 2022–23

New Hampshire's 25 cheapest colleges by real net price

1
Empire Beauty School-Somersworth Somersworth, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$9,170
Net price (<$30K income)
$8,268
Median debt
$6,333
Median earnings, 6yr
$18,595
Enrollment
184
3
Empire Beauty School-Hooksett Hooksett, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$10,549
Net price (<$30K income)
$10,813
Median debt
$7,942
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,629
Enrollment
306
4
Empire Beauty School-Laconia Laconia, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$11,382
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,382
Median debt
$7,942
Median earnings, 6yr
$35,629
Enrollment
92
5
Lakes Region Community College Laconia, NH · Public
Avg net price
$13,124
Net price (<$30K income)
$12,270
Median debt
$18,525
Median earnings, 6yr
$37,104
Enrollment
735
6
Keene Beauty Academy Keene, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$14,027
Net price (<$30K income)
$12,620
Median debt
$9,833
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
50
7
Manchester Community College Manchester, NH · Public
Avg net price
$14,143
Net price (<$30K income)
$11,338
Median debt
$15,060
Median earnings, 6yr
$38,656
Enrollment
2,081
8
River Valley Community College Claremont, NH · Public
Avg net price
$14,804
Net price (<$30K income)
$13,183
Median debt
$16,226
Median earnings, 6yr
$41,242
Enrollment
677
9
White Mountains Community College Berlin, NH · Public
Avg net price
$15,474
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,004
Median debt
$11,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$30,905
Enrollment
577
10
Great Bay Community College Portsmouth, NH · Public
Avg net price
$15,768
Net price (<$30K income)
$13,237
Median debt
$13,828
Median earnings, 6yr
$39,867
Enrollment
1,462
11
Keene State College Keene, NH · Public
Avg net price
$17,887
Net price (<$30K income)
$12,192
Median debt
$25,749
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,649
Enrollment
2,848
12
NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord, NH · Public
Avg net price
$18,011
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,790
Median debt
$14,650
Median earnings, 6yr
$41,421
Enrollment
2,657
13
Thomas More College of Liberal Arts Merrimack, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$18,489
Net price (<$30K income)
$10,433
Median debt
$25,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$40,173
Enrollment
97
14
Plymouth State University Plymouth, NH · Public
Avg net price
$19,216
Net price (<$30K income)
$14,676
Median debt
$26,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$46,466
Enrollment
3,707
15
Nashua Community College Nashua, NH · Public
Avg net price
$23,154
Net price (<$30K income)
$21,030
Median debt
$11,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$39,161
Enrollment
1,342
17
New England College Henniker, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$26,972
Net price (<$30K income)
$25,598
Median debt
$26,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$31,050
Enrollment
3,275
18
Franklin Pierce University Rindge, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$27,154
Net price (<$30K income)
$19,364
Median debt
$27,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$45,563
Enrollment
1,654
19
Colby-Sawyer College New London, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$27,431
Net price (<$30K income)
$22,456
Median debt
$27,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$37,935
Enrollment
972
20
Rivier University Nashua, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$28,082
Net price (<$30K income)
$23,321
Median debt
$26,956
Median earnings, 6yr
$54,599
Enrollment
2,777
21
Dartmouth College Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$29,519
Net price (<$30K income)
$41
Median debt
$17,500
Median earnings, 6yr
$82,541
Enrollment
6,938
22
Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth Portsmouth, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$29,986
Net price (<$30K income)
$29,986
Median debt
$9,833
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
73
23
Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$34,779
Net price (<$30K income)
$25,143
Median debt
$27,000
Median earnings, 6yr
$63,347
Enrollment
2,111
24
Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit
Avg net price
$36,708
Net price (<$30K income)
$36,441
Median debt
$21,082
Median earnings, 6yr
$41,945
Enrollment
189,531
25
Harmony Health Care Institute Merrimack, NH · Private for-profit
Avg net price
$42,740
Net price (<$30K income)
$40,410
Median debt
$12,685
Median earnings, 6yr
-
Enrollment
153
# College Avg net priceNet price (<$30K income)Median debtMedian earnings, 6yrEnrollment
1 Empire Beauty School-Somersworth Somersworth, NH · Private for-profit $9,170 79% of the leader · rank #1 $8,268 $6,333 $18,595 184
2 University of New Hampshire at Manchester Manchester, NH · Public $9,992 77% of the leader · rank #2 $3,181 $26,814 $53,671 663
3 Empire Beauty School-Hooksett Hooksett, NH · Private for-profit $10,549 75% of the leader · rank #3 $10,813 $7,942 $35,629 306
4 Empire Beauty School-Laconia Laconia, NH · Private for-profit $11,382 73% of the leader · rank #4 $11,382 $7,942 $35,629 92
5 Lakes Region Community College Laconia, NH · Public $13,124 69% of the leader · rank #5 $12,270 $18,525 $37,104 735
6 Keene Beauty Academy Keene, NH · Private for-profit $14,027 67% of the leader · rank #6 $12,620 $9,833 - 50
7 Manchester Community College Manchester, NH · Public $14,143 67% of the leader · rank #7 $11,338 $15,060 $38,656 2,081
8 River Valley Community College Claremont, NH · Public $14,804 65% of the leader · rank #8 $13,183 $16,226 $41,242 677
9 White Mountains Community College Berlin, NH · Public $15,474 64% of the leader · rank #9 $14,004 $11,000 $30,905 577
10 Great Bay Community College Portsmouth, NH · Public $15,768 63% of the leader · rank #10 $13,237 $13,828 $39,867 1,462
11 Keene State College Keene, NH · Public $17,887 58% of the leader · rank #11 $12,192 $25,749 $46,649 2,848
12 NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord, NH · Public $18,011 58% of the leader · rank #12 $14,790 $14,650 $41,421 2,657
13 Thomas More College of Liberal Arts Merrimack, NH · Private nonprofit $18,489 57% of the leader · rank #13 $10,433 $25,000 $40,173 97
14 Plymouth State University Plymouth, NH · Public $19,216 55% of the leader · rank #14 $14,676 $26,000 $46,466 3,707
15 Nashua Community College Nashua, NH · Public $23,154 46% of the leader · rank #15 $21,030 $11,000 $39,161 1,342
16 University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Durham, NH · Public $23,805 44% of the leader · rank #16 $16,523 $26,814 $53,671 13,554
17 New England College Henniker, NH · Private nonprofit $26,972 37% of the leader · rank #17 $25,598 $26,000 $31,050 3,275
18 Franklin Pierce University Rindge, NH · Private nonprofit $27,154 36% of the leader · rank #18 $19,364 $27,000 $45,563 1,654
19 Colby-Sawyer College New London, NH · Private nonprofit $27,431 36% of the leader · rank #19 $22,456 $27,000 $37,935 972
20 Rivier University Nashua, NH · Private nonprofit $28,082 34% of the leader · rank #20 $23,321 $26,956 $54,599 2,777
21 Dartmouth College Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit $29,519 31% of the leader · rank #21 $41 $17,500 $82,541 6,938
22 Paul Mitchell the School-Portsmouth Portsmouth, NH · Private for-profit $29,986 30% of the leader · rank #22 $29,986 $9,833 - 73
23 Saint Anselm College Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit $34,779 19% of the leader · rank #23 $25,143 $27,000 $63,347 2,111
24 Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH · Private nonprofit $36,708 14% of the leader · rank #24 $36,441 $21,082 $41,945 189,531
25 Harmony Health Care Institute Merrimack, NH · Private for-profit $42,740 4% of the leader · rank #25 $40,410 $12,685 - 153

Related

All 51 states → | New Hampshire campus safety → | Find your school's rank → | Methodology →

What this means for you

Use New Hampshire's ranking as a starting point, real net price depends on your specific financial-aid package.

Figures reflect the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23 release.

Average net price = the institution-reported average amount students actually paid after all grant and scholarship aid, excluding loans. Only schools with a reported average net price in the DOE College Scorecard dataset are ranked. This page lists the 25 cheapest; the title count is the full Scorecard-reporting cohort for New Hampshire. Schools with fewer than 10 net-price-reporting institutions in a state or territory are not given a dedicated ranking page.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard IPEDS 2022–23

Every figure on PlainCampus is rendered directly from federal Clery Act source data, no number is typed in by an editor. Every ranked figure on this page is queried directly from the DOE College Scorecard dataset at request time; no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

PlainCampus is for informational purposes only and does not constitute safety, security, legal, or enrollment advice; the data describes reported on-campus activity, it is not a complete picture of safety at any campus and cannot predict any individual student's experience. See our appropriate use guidance.