The Area: Set in Durham, a classic New England college town, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) offers the best of the region in one place. Students are just 15 minutes from the beach, with 15 miles of accessible seacoast, and are within an hour of the White Mountains for skiing and hiking. The historic port city of Portsmouth—well known for its restaurants, waterfront, and cultural events—is about 20 minutes away. Boston is just an hour away by car, and the Amtrak Downeaster stops right on campus, providing students with easy train access to the city for internships, concerts, and other fun activities. Manchester, the largest city in New Hampshire, and Concord, the Capital, are each just about 45 minutes away.
The Campus/Students: UNH’s campus is beautiful and highly walkable, blending historic red-brick buildings with new, modern facilities. With Durham’s local cafés, restaurants, and shops just a 5-minute stroll from campus, students feel connected to town life. The grounds are well-maintained, and the feel is quintessentially collegiate. The university enrolls about 11,000 undergraduates and 2,500 graduate students, drawing students from 49 states and 74 countries. 60% of students are from out of state, but diversity on campus is notably lacking.
Athletics and student life are vibrant. UNH fields 20 Division I teams, with men’s and women’s hockey being campus highlights. There are 250+ student organizations, a growing Greek scene, and plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities through the Outing Club. Broomball (played on ice) is a favorite winter pastime and student life, and community service events are well attended on the close-knit campus. Sustainability is central to UNH’s identity—it holds the nation’s highest rating for campus sustainability for the third consecutive year.
Academics: Classes are accessible and engaging: the average class size is 33, with 84% of classes under 50 students. While some intro-level courses are larger lectures, most students transition into small, discussion-based classes after freshman year. With a focus on undergraduate instruction, faculty members teach all students, and the university supports undecided students through a strong advising program. Unlike at many flagship universities, students at UNH often have the opportunity to participate in research early in their college experience. As a land-, sea-, and space-grant university, research is woven into the undergraduate experience. In fact, the school hosts the largest undergraduate research conference in the country, providing students with hands-on opportunities across various disciplines.
Notable programs include:
Marine biology, environmental sciences, and sustainability (leveraging UNH’s seacoast location)
Business (Paul College is well-regarded for finance, hospitality management, and entrepreneurship)
Engineering and computer science (including the cutting-edge InterOperability Lab, where students test products for top tech companies before public release)
Entrepreneurship (through the E Center, where students pitch ideas for funding)
Manufacturing and robotics (the John Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center partners with NASA and other major companies)
Nursing is direct-entry and highly selective (100 students are admitted annually, with prerequisites in math and sciences).
Other highlights include a new Honors College facility, a newly upgraded bioscience building, a new(ish) equine studies major, pre-veterinary advising, and a reputation for supporting students across disciplines with accelerated programs and professional pathways.
Cost: For Fall 2025, the total cost of attendance was about $39,554 for in-state students and $60,966 for out-of-state students. With increased merit scholarships (ranging $5,000–$20,000 per year for out-of-state students), UNH is working to make itself more affordable and competitive for students nationwide.
The University of New Hampshire offers a beautiful, walkable campus in a quintessential college town, providing access to both outdoor adventure and city life, as well as strong academics across a wide range of fields. Additionally, it boasts one of the country’s strongest commitments to sustainability and research. For students seeking an active, well-rounded New England college experience with proximity to Boston, UNH may be worth a look. Visit UNH’s website to learn more and see if it’s a good fit for you.