UNH Surpasses Enrollment Target for Incoming Class, Bucking National Trends

UNH surpassed its enrollment target for fall 2026 and saw a nearly 4% jump in incoming class size from last year — a result made more significant as college admissions offices throughout the U.S. enter the first year of the widely anticipated national demographic cliff.

Out-of-state enrollment grew 7%, with every New England state contributing at least 5% growth over the prior year. In-state enrollment held steady despite broader regional demographic declines, reflecting UNH's strengthened position in the New Hampshire market.

The university received a total of 2,471 first-year student deposits for fall 2026.

“We are so proud that these individuals chose the University of New Hampshire,” says Kim DeRego, vice provost of enrollment management. “Each one of these new students reflects an exciting journey and an opportunity for UNH to provide a strong academic experience, meaningful support, and a clear path forward.”

The incoming class represents the highest level of academic achievement in UNH history, with an average high school GPA of 3.7. The number of students with a 4.0 or higher increased by 20% over last year, and the class includes 322 students in the Hamel Honors and Scholars College, also a 20% year-over-year increase.

The university's value-focused messaging strategy appears to have resonated strongly with prospective students: survey data shows that 47% of enrolling students said UNH was a "much better" value than competing institutions, and 80% rated it a better value overall.

UNH will continue working with students who have requested deposit extensions through the summer. Transfer student numbers for the Durham campus are currently trending ahead of last year. Enrollment figures for UNH Manchester, which deposits later, will be reported later this summer.