NHFPI Study: New Hampshire Ranks Last In The Nation For Public Higher Education Funding

By NHFPI Staff, InDepth NH

CONCORD, NH — A new analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute finds that New Hampshire continues to rank last in the nation for public higher education funding, raising concerns about rising tuition costs, cuts to education services, and the future of the state’s workforce.

According to the analysis, with state support for colleges and universities trailing national benchmarks, Granite Staters are facing high costs for college attendance, potentially limiting access to degrees that are critical for high-demand careers in the state. NHFPI found that between State Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025, New Hampshire’s state aid for public higher education dropped 3.9 percent while the average among all U.S. states increased 4.3 percent during this time. In Fiscal Year 2024, the state appropriated just $4,629 per full-time student, compared to the national average of $11,683.

The newly approved 2026-2027 New Hampshire State Budget is poised to deepen these challenges, modestly increasing funding for the Community College System of New Hampshire by about 1 percent ($940,000) while cutting funding for the University System of New Hampshire by 17.6 percent ($35 million) compared to the last biennium.

“Our findings should serve as a wake-up call,” said Nicole Heller, author of the study and a senior policy analyst at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. “Underfunding our public colleges and universities not only makes it harder for Granite Staters to afford to pursue college degrees, it also risks leaving the state unprepared to meet its workforce needs. With the newly approved state budget reducing funding for Keene State, Plymouth State, and UNH by 17.6 percent relative to the last budget, the gap between New Hampshire and the rest of the country could widen even further.”

About the Analysis

The issue brief reviews data from state budgets, higher education enrollment, and national comparisons using metrics from the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association. It explores how declining state support has impacted tuition trends, student debt, and workforce readiness, particularly in occupations that require college degrees.

Key Findings

• Last in the nation in funding: New Hampshire appropriated $4,629 per full-time student, the lowest in the country in 2024.
• Behind on growth: NH’s public higher ed funding dropped 3.9 percent while the average among all U.S. states increased 4.3 percent during this time
• Workforce implications: Half of New Hampshire’s top 10 in-demand jobs require at least some college education.
• Rising tuition: Four-year public colleges in NH raised in-state tuition and fees by 2.5% to 4.9% this year; community college tuition rose nearly 7%.
• Heavy reliance on students: New Hampshire public colleges get 68% of revenue from student tuition vs. 39% nationally.

According to the analysis, reduced investment in public higher education could have impacts on university tuition, enrollment, and New Hampshire’s economy as a whole. The analysis states: “High tuition costs and low state funding for public higher education can have long-term impacts on the financial well-being of Granite State students and families.”

“Granite Staters need affordable, accessible education pathways that lead to good jobs here in New Hampshire,” said Heller. “Investing in our students can help grow our workforce and improve the Granite State’s economic future.”

You can read the full analysis, New Hampshire Continues to Be One of the Lowest Funders of Public Higher Education in the Country, at https://nhfpi.org/resource/new-hampshire-continues-to-be-one-of-the-lowest-funders-of-public-higher-education-in-the-country.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.