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Main Street, Atkinson NHPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Atkinson

Northern Essex Community College is 6.7 miles from Atkinson

No college sits inside Atkinson’s boundary, but Northern Essex Community College’s campus in Haverhill, with 3,674 students on campus, is 6.7 miles from the center of town, and Nashua Community College is 18.3 miles away in Nashua. About 6% of Atkinson’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Atkinson. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
8,622 students on campus
Nearest college
6.7 mi
Northern Essex
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NH (6%)
Nearest community college
18.3 mi
Nashua · $7,140 tuition
Nearest public university
18.4 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $15,838 in-state
Median household income
$146K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Atkinson

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college 6.7 miles awayNorthern Essex Community College has 3,674 students on campus in Haverhill, 21% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 18.3 miles awayNashua Community College in Nashua: tuition and fees $7,140 a year for New Hampshire residents.In-state price at University of New Hampshire at ManchesterLiving in New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester charges $15,838 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $36,418. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as New Hampshire (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Atkinson

Two private colleges within 12 miles, and Northern Essex Community College 6.7 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is 18.4 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMerrimack CollegeNorthern EssexMassachusetts School of LawAtkinson
University or collegeCommunity college
Northern Essex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,674 on campus · 6.7 mi · Haverhill, MA$6knet price21%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $6,732 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Massachusetts School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 284 on campus · 11 mi · Andover, MAGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Merrimack CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,664 on campus · 12 mi · North Andover, MA70%admitted$38knet price70%graduate$76kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Atkinson’s median household income ($146,380) falls.

Northern Essex Community College6.7 mi · Haverhill, MA · sticker $13,201 · tuition $6,732$12,476a year
University of New Hampshire at Manchester18.4 mi · Manchester · sticker $20,020$16,386a year
Merrimack College12 mi · North Andover, MA · sticker $70,038$41,050a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Northern EssexMerrimack CollegeUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester
Merrimack College70% graduate$76k earnings$27k typical debt
Northern Essex Community College21% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
University of New Hampshire at Manchester50% graduate$66k earnings*$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of New Hampshire at Manchester (4).

Questions about college near Atkinson

Is Atkinson a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Atkinson residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Hampshire (6). The nearest campus, Northern Essex Community College, is 6.7 miles away in Haverhill.

What colleges are near Atkinson?

Within 15 miles: Northern Essex Community College (6.7 miles, 3,674 students on campus), Massachusetts School of Law (11 miles, 284) and Merrimack College (12 miles, 4,664).

What is the closest community college to Atkinson, and what does it cost?

Nashua Community College in Nashua, 18.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,140 a year for New Hampshire residents; the federal net price, $23,154, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of New Hampshire at Manchester cost if we live in New Hampshire?

Tuition and fees are $15,838 a year in-state and $36,418 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,181 (under $30,000 income) to $16,386 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Atkinson. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →