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Colleges in and near Kensington

Northern Essex Community College is 10.3 miles from Kensington

No college sits inside Kensington’s boundary, but Northern Essex Community College’s campus in Haverhill, with 3,674 students on campus, is 10.3 miles from the center of town, and Great Bay Community College is 12.7 miles away in Portsmouth. About 3% of Kensington’s residents are enrolled in college, below 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 Kensington. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
17,870 students on campus
Nearest college
10.3 mi
Northern Essex
Residents in college
3%
Below NH (6%)
Nearest community college
12.7 mi
Great Bay · $7,200 tuition
Nearest public university
14.1 mi
UNH · $19,202 in-state
Median household income
$165K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Kensington

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

A community college 10.3 miles awayNorthern Essex Community College has 3,674 students on campus in Haverhill, 21% of whom graduate within three years.A community college 12.7 miles awayGreat Bay Community College in Portsmouth: tuition and fees $7,200 a year for New Hampshire residents.In-state price at UNHLiving in New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire charges $19,202 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $39,852. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 3% of residentsBelow New Hampshire (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Kensington

All 3 are public. Every other college is more than 15 miles from Kensington.

5 mi10 mi15 miUNHNorthern EssexGreat BayKensington
University or collegeCommunity college
Northern Essex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,674 on campus · 10.3 mi · Haverhill, MA$6knet price21%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $6,732 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Great Bay Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,197 on campus · 12.7 mi · Portsmouth$16knet price34%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $7,200 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of New HampshireUniversity or college · Public · 12,999 on campus · 14.1 mi · Durham88%admitted$24knet price76%graduate$66kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.

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 Kensington’s median household income ($165,083) falls.

Northern Essex Community College10.3 mi · Haverhill, MA · sticker $13,201 · tuition $6,732$12,476a year
Great Bay Community College12.7 mi · Portsmouth · sticker $21,963 · tuition $7,200$21,963a year
University of New Hampshire14.1 mi · Durham · sticker $35,537$28,588a 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 Kensington: 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 EssexGreat BayUNH
University of New Hampshire76% graduate$66k earnings*$27k typical debt
Northern Essex Community College21% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
Great Bay Community College34% graduate$42k earnings$14k 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: UNH (4).

Questions about college near Kensington

Is Kensington a college town?

No. About 3 of every 100 Kensington residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New Hampshire (6). The nearest campus, Northern Essex Community College, is 10.3 miles away in Haverhill.

What colleges are near Kensington?

Within 15 miles: Northern Essex Community College (10.3 miles, 3,674 students on campus), Great Bay Community College (12.7 miles, 1,197) and the University of New Hampshire (14.1 miles, 12,999).

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

Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, 12.7 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,200 a year for New Hampshire residents; the federal net price, $15,768, counts housing and food at full cost.

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

Tuition and fees are $19,202 a year in-state and $39,852 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $16,523 (under $30,000 income) to $28,588 (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 Kensington. 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 →