USNH Launches New Free Tuition Program for N.H. Families Making Up to $100K

A UNH education is now within reach for more New Hampshire families, thanks to the New Hampshire Promise, a new program launched by the University System of New Hampshire. Beginning in fall 2027, incoming first-year and transfer students from families earning up to $100,000 a year can have their tuition covered at any USNH institution, removing a major financial barrier and giving more students the opportunity to pursue their goals and build their future in New Hampshire.

“New Hampshire’s public institutions of higher education are a transformative opportunity for students,” USNH Chancellor Cathy Provencher says. “In launching this new program, all of the university system institutions are working together to make higher education more accessible for more New Hampshire students, enabling them to pursue their dreams right here in the Granite State.” 

Under the terms of the program, New Hampshire residents who are admitted as full-time, first-year students or transfers who have graduated from a New Hampshire community college, with total family income of up to $100,000, qualify to attend a USNH institution — UNH Durham, UNH Manchester, UNH College of Professional Studies Online, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College — tuition-free. With New Hampshire’s median household income of $99,782, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, the program has the potential to benefit a significant portion of the state’s families.

“The New Hampshire Promise program is an investment in our students and in the future of our state. By expanding affordable pathways to higher education, we’re creating more opportunities for our young people to pursue good-paying jobs and making it easier for them to build their careers in New Hampshire," says New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte. "I thank the University System of New Hampshire for their efforts to make college more affordable for New Hampshire students and their families.” 

Admitted students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically be considered for the New Hampshire Promise; there is no separate application process. While the program covers tuition, it does not cover housing, food, books, or fees. 

The New Hampshire Promise replaces USNH’s Granite Guarantee program, established in 2017 to provide free tuition to Pell-eligible New Hampshire students. Since its inception, more than 4,000 students have qualified for this program. Currently enrolled USNH undergraduates will remain in Granite Guarantee to ensure no disruption of financial aid benefits.

The program is the latest effort to make college more affordable in the Granite State. Last month, the University of New Hampshire announced that it awarded a record $40 million in financial aid to incoming students this year, with the average student award topping $16,000. Almost every student in the incoming class (96%) received financial aid, with an average award of $16,918, an increase of more than 50% from the prior year.

These efforts, combined with UNH’s high student success rates, led to UNH being named New England’s No. 1 best value public university for the sixth consecutive year, according to the Best Value Schools rankings of National Universities by U.S. News & World Report. According to UNH’s most recent graduating class survey data, UNH graduates boast a 94% success rate, with 71.6% of students employed within 12 months after graduation and another 22.2% enrolled in further education. Additionally, the significant majority of employed graduates — 88% — reported that their job was directly or somewhat related to their major.

Learn more about the New Hampshire Promise.