Four Reasons Working Professionals Are Choosing UNH’s Online Graduate Programs
Today’s working professional graduate students are balancing a lot, from work to family to personal obligations. Yet advancing in their careers and achieving a degree is a priority for them.
The University of New Hampshire’s professional online graduate programs in a variety of disciplines and fields fit students’ lives and goals by adapting to their needs. As online enrollment grows nationwide, UNH’s Fall 2025 New Online Graduate Student survey revealed what matters most to students choosing our programs. The insights paint a clear picture: Modern learners want flexibility, value, institutional excellence, and programs with real-world impact. Here are four reasons why working professionals are choosing UNH’s online graduate programs.
1. Flexibility
Modern graduate students need flexibility in their coursework, as they are also focusing on changing their career, seeking professional advancement, or tending to personal and family obligations. UNH’s online asynchronous course options allow students to study when it works for them.
2. Cost
Financial considerations are important to UNH graduate students, as they want to be sure they are getting the best value for their money. UNH’s online programs mean students save money on relocation costs, commuting, and childcare. Many students are able to continue working full-time. Taking advantage of part-time enrollment options also makes their education financially feasible.
3. Reputation
As online program offerings increase in the market, students are seeking established institutions they can trust. UNH brings 150+ years of excellence as New Hampshire’s flagship R1 research university and a Land, Sea, and Space Grant institution. Online students are able to access the same distinguished faculty as on-campus students. Faculty bring both academic expertise and real-world experience.
4. Specialized Programs
Online graduate students seek programs where they can gain the skills and knowledge needed to advance in their careers or make a career shift. UNH’s online graduate programs stand out for their specialized focus and practical applications. Even in a virtual space, students receive hands-on experience, with applicable programs offering capstone research projects, internship opportunities, and clinical experience that may lead to licensure in programs like nursing and social work.
Our online graduate programs offer options in popular fields and in high-demand professions within behavioral health, healthcare, technology, business, public service, and more. UNH also offers specialized online graduate programs, such as a nursing concentration in adult-gerontology acute care, a Master of Science in national security intelligence analysis, a trauma informed policy and practice graduate certificate, and an assistive technology graduate certificate, to name a few.