What a friend would tell you
What UNH is looking for
UNH uses rolling admissions, so applying early with a clean application locks in space and merit aid. The school values demonstrated interest: attend an open house or connect with your regional rep. For engineering, nursing, or the Peter T. Paul College of Business, specify the program in your application. Honors Program applicants face an extra review that looks for intellectual ambition beyond the classroom.
What students wish they'd known
Durham is a tiny town (population 17,000 including students) with limited off-campus options. New Hampshire winters are harsh: snow from November through April, with dark afternoons by 4 PM. The 65% four-year graduation rate suggests some students struggle with advising or course access. UNH's brand recognition drops quickly outside New England, which can limit job placement for out-of-region students.
UNH might be a fit if...
- You want a mid-size New England public school with ocean and mountain access within an hour
- You're targeting business, engineering, or health professions with in-state or New England tuition rates
- You want a campus where skiing, hiking, and the seacoast are weekend staples, not special occasions
UNH Admissions Strategy
Application Info
Plans: EA, RD
Deadlines: EA November 15 · RD February 1
Deadlines: EA November 15 · RD February 1
Test Policy
Test-optional
You choose whether to send scores. A strong score helps your case; a weak one is better left off.
Demonstrated Interest
Not Tracked
Not tracked. Skip the info-session circuit and put those hours into the application itself.
Interview
Not offered
Yield Rate
28%
Only 28% of admits choose to enroll. The waitlist moves more than you'd think; if you land on it, make your interest loud.
Want the strongest possible application to UNH, plus better odds and merit offers everywhere else you apply?
Join the free one-hour workshop from two Harvard grads who have helped 3,000+ students get in. Parents welcome.
Cost & Financial Aid at UNH
$51,000
Sticker Price
$18,000
In-State Tuition
$8,500
Avg Merit Aid
Need-aware admissions. Meets need: Partial. 85% receive financial aid.
For context: UNH spends about $11,000 per student per year on instruction and student resources, right around the $15K national average.
What UNH Graduates Get
$43,000
Avg Starting Salary
91%
Employed or in Grad School
65%
Graduate in 4 Years
The 4-year number is the on-time rate; the 6-year rate (76%) is the one schools usually advertise. A wide gap means many students pay for extra semesters.
UNH Campus & Culture
The Campus
UNH's 2,600-acre campus spreads across the small town of Durham, with a mix of red-brick Colonial and modern buildings set among New England woods. Thompson Hall, a granite Second Empire building from 1892, anchors the main quad. The Whittemore Center arena and new engineering facilities cluster near the south end. College Brook runs through campus, and the Atlantic coast is 15 minutes east in Portsmouth.
The Social Scene
Outdoor-oriented, some bar scene, close-knit New England vibe
UNH Traditions & Trivia
Fish Toss
When UNH scores its first goal at a home hockey game in the Whittemore Center, fans hurl a fish onto the ice over the boards, a tradition that has been splashing around since the early 1970s.
Academics at UNH
What UNH is known for
Strong engineering program, beautiful campus, outdoor recreation
Most popular majors at UNH
Standout programs
Engineering, business, health professions
How the curriculum works
General education with major-specific tracks
Recommended high school courses
4 English, 4 Math, 3 Science, 3 Social Studies, 2 Foreign Language
Notable UNH Alumni
John Irving
Novelist who wrote 'The World According to Garp,' UNH MFA
Marlin Fitzwater
White House Press Secretary under Reagan and Bush
Jeff Woodburn
New Hampshire state senator and political figure
Chris Carpenter
Cy Young Award-winning pitcher, UNH baseball
If you like UNH, also consider
University of Vermont
Similar New England public with Burlington's livelier town and environmental focus
University of Connecticut
Bigger New England flagship with stronger athletics and academics
University of Maine
More affordable, more rural, stronger marine science
Colby College
Small Maine liberal arts for students who want more academic rigor and a different experience
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Larger flagship with more program variety and Five College access