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Nashua NH Main Street 50Photo: Jon Platek · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Nashua

Nashua is home to two colleges, with 3,301 students on campus

Rivier University (2,230 students on campus) and Nashua Community College (1,071) are inside the city. About 5% of Nashua’s residents are enrolled in college, below New Hampshire (6%).

Rivier UniversityNashua 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 Nashua. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
15,043 students on campus
Nearest college
1.9 mi
Rivier University
Residents in college
5%
Below NH (6%)
Nearest community college
3.6 mi
Nashua · $7,140 tuition
Nearest public university
16.5 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $15,838 in-state
Median household income
$96K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Nashua

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

Two colleges within 3.6 milesRivier University admits 83% of applicants. Together they have 3,301 students on campus.A community college 3.6 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 5% of residentsBelow New Hampshire (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Nashua

One private college within 1.9 miles, one public college within 10.6 miles, and Nashua Community College 3.6 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is 16.5 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellRivier UniversityNashuaNashua
University or collegeCommunity college
Rivier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,230 on campus · In Nashua83%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$52kearningsNashua Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,071 on campus · In Nashua$23knet price38%graduate$46kearningsTuition and fees: $7,140 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity or college · Public · 11,742 on campus · 10.6 mi · Lowell, MA83%admitted$17knet price65%graduate$65kearnings

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 $75–110k, where Nashua’s median household income ($96,326) falls.

University of New Hampshire at Manchester16.5 mi · Manchester · sticker $20,020$7,270a year
University of Massachusetts-Lowell10.6 mi · Lowell, MA · sticker $30,786$16,460a year
Rivier UniversityIn Nashua · sticker $53,499$27,352a year
Nashua Community CollegeIn Nashua · sticker $29,014 · tuition $7,140$29,014a 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 →Rivier UniversityNashuaUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity of New Hampshire at Manchester
University of Massachusetts-Lowell65% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Rivier University52% graduate$52k earnings$27k 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 Nashua

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

Health professions 37%Business 18%Education 8%Liberal arts 7%Mechanics & repair 5%Computer science 4%Everything else 21%

Biggest programs

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingRivier University · 120 graduates a year
$92k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and HumanitiesNashua Community College · 40 graduates a year
$46k4 yrs out
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/TechniciansNashua Community College · 23 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsRivier University · 19 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingNashua Community College · 16 graduates a year
$91k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralRivier University · 15 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and MethodsRivier University · 11 graduates a year
$49k4 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.

Questions about college in Nashua

Is Nashua a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Nashua residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New Hampshire (6). The largest campus in the city, Rivier University, has 2,230 students on campus.

What colleges are in Nashua?

Rivier University and Nashua Community College are inside the city.

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

Nashua Community College in Nashua, 3.6 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 Nashua. 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 →