Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Bedford

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Presbyterian Church, Bedford NHPhoto: John Phelan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Bedford

Saint Anselm College is 3.9 miles from Bedford

No college sits inside Bedford’s boundary, but Saint Anselm College’s campus in Manchester, with 2,057 students on campus, is 3.9 miles from the center of town, and Manchester Community College is 6.4 miles away in Manchester. About 5% of Bedford’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire (6%).

Saint Anselm College

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 Bedford. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
6
13,925 students on campus
Nearest college
3.9 mi
Saint Anselm College
Residents in college
5%
About the same as NH (6%)
Nearest community college
6.4 mi
Manchester · $7,090 tuition
Nearest public university
5 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $15,838 in-state
Median household income
$167K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Bedford

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

A college 3.9 miles awaySaint Anselm College has 2,057 students on campus in Manchester, 80% of whom graduate within six years.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.A community college 6.4 miles awayManchester Community College in Manchester: tuition and fees $7,090 a year for New Hampshire residents.Students are 5% 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 Bedford

Three private colleges within 14.2 miles, one public college within 5 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSouthern New Hampshire UniversityRivier UniversitySaint Anselm CollegeBedford
University or collegeCommunity college
Saint Anselm CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,057 on campus · 3.9 mi · Manchester78%admitted$35knet price80%graduate$73kearningsUniversity of New Hampshire at ManchesterUniversity or college · Public · 662 on campus · 5 mi · Manchester81%admitted$10knet price50%graduate$66kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Manchester Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,613 on campus · 6.4 mi · Manchester$14knet price41%graduate$49kearningsTuition and fees: $7,090 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Southern New Hampshire UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 6,292 on campus · 8.3 mi · Manchester · mostly online100%admitted$37knet price43%graduate$50kearnings97% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Nashua Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,071 on campus · 9.8 mi · Nashua$23knet price38%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $7,140 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Rivier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,230 on campus · 14.2 mi · Nashua83%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$52kearnings

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. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Bedford’s median household income ($167,418) falls.

University of New Hampshire at Manchester5 mi · Manchester · sticker $20,020$16,386a year
Manchester Community College6.4 mi · Manchester · sticker $20,703 · tuition $7,090$20,703a year
Nashua Community College9.8 mi · Nashua · sticker $29,014 · tuition $7,140$28,492a year
Rivier University14.2 mi · Nashua · sticker $53,499$31,359a year
Saint Anselm College3.9 mi · Manchester · sticker $67,213$37,268a year
Southern New Hampshire University8.3 mi · Manchester · mostly online · sticker $40,918$38,025a 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 within 15 miles of Bedford: 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 →Saint Anselm CollegeUniversity of New Hampshire at ManchesterManchesterSouthern New Hampshire UniversityNashuaRivier University
Southern New Hampshire University43% graduate$50k earnings$21k typical debt
Rivier University52% graduate$52k earnings$27k typical debt
Saint Anselm College80% graduate$73k earnings$27k typical debt
Manchester Community College41% graduate$49k earnings$15k typical debt
Nashua Community College38% graduate$46k earnings$11k 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 Bedford

Is Bedford a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Bedford residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Hampshire (6). The nearest campus, Saint Anselm College, is 3.9 miles away in Manchester.

What colleges are near Bedford?

Within 15 miles: Saint Anselm College (3.9 miles, 2,057 students on campus), the University of New Hampshire at Manchester (5 miles, 662), Manchester Community College (6.4 miles, 1,613), Southern New Hampshire University (8.3 miles, 6,292), Nashua Community College (9.8 miles, 1,071) and Rivier University (14.2 miles, 2,230).

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

Manchester Community College in Manchester, 6.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,090 a year for New Hampshire residents; the federal net price, $14,143, 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.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

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 Bedford. 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 →