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Manchester, New Hampshire skylinePhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Manchester

Manchester is home to three colleges, with 8,567 students on campus

Southern New Hampshire University (6,292 students on campus) and Manchester Community College (1,613) are inside the city, and Saint Anselm College (2,057) is 3 miles from the center, just over the line in Goffstown. About 6% of Manchester’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as New Hampshire (6%).

Saint Anselm CollegeManchester Community 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 Manchester. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
11,695 students on campus
Nearest college
1.3 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester
Residents in college
6%
About the same as NH (6%)
Nearest community college
3.1 mi
Manchester · $7,090 tuition
Nearest public university
1.3 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $15,838 in-state
Median household income
$81K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Manchester

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

Two colleges within 3.1 milesSaint Anselm College admits 78% of applicants. Together they have 3,670 students on campus.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 3.1 miles awayManchester Community College in Manchester: tuition and fees $7,090 a year for New Hampshire residents.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 Manchester

Two private colleges within 3.8 miles, one public college within 1.3 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miSouthern New Hampshire UniversitySaint Anselm CollegeManchesterManchester
University or collegeCommunity college
University of New Hampshire at ManchesterUniversity or college · Public · 662 on campus · In Manchester81%admitted$10knet price50%graduate$66kearningsEarnings are reported for all 4 campuses that file with it.Saint Anselm CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,057 on campus · 3 mi · Manchester78%admitted$35knet price80%graduate$73kearningsManchester Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,613 on campus · In 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 · In 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 · 13.8 mi · Nashua$23knet price38%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $7,140 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 $75–110k, where Manchester’s median household income ($81,007) falls.

University of New Hampshire at ManchesterIn Manchester · sticker $20,020$7,270a year
Manchester Community CollegeIn Manchester · sticker $20,703 · tuition $7,090$20,380a year
Nashua Community College13.8 mi · Nashua · sticker $29,014 · tuition $7,140$29,014a year
Saint Anselm College3 mi · Manchester · sticker $67,213$31,710a year
Southern New Hampshire UniversityIn Manchester · mostly online · sticker $40,918$37,704a 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 Manchester: 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 →University of New Hampshire at ManchesterSaint Anselm CollegeManchesterSouthern New Hampshire UniversityNashua
Southern New Hampshire University43% graduate$50k earnings$21k 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).

Majors

What students study in Manchester

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Manchester’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 14%Mechanics & repair 13%Liberal arts 13%Business 10%Precision production 9%Construction trades 7%Everything else 34%

Biggest programs

Business/Commerce, GeneralUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 22 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 14 graduates a year
$77k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 12 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Neurobiology and NeurosciencesUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 12 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, OtherUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 11 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/TechniciansUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 11 graduates a year
$82k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 10 graduates a year
$105k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester · 10 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: Southern New Hampshire University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Manchester

Is Manchester a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Manchester residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as New Hampshire (6). The largest campus in the city, Southern New Hampshire University, has 6,292 students on campus.

What colleges are in Manchester?

Southern New Hampshire University, Manchester Community College and the University of New Hampshire at Manchester are inside the city. Saint Anselm College is 3 miles from the center, in Goffstown.

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

Manchester Community College in Manchester, 3.1 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.

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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 Manchester. 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 →