NH community colleges freeze tuition again in 2024-25: Here's what it costs

CONCORD — The Community College System of New Hampshire, which includes Great Bay Community College, is freezing tuition for the upcoming academic year at last year’s rate, which has been unchanged since 2018. This makes the 2024-25 academic year the seventh consecutive year with flat in-state tuition of $215 per credit.

CCSNH said the flat tuition recognizies the impact on New Hampshire families of rising costs across many products and service. The tuition freeze applies to 200 certificate and degree programs at all seven community colleges across the state and their affiliated academic centers. This rate applies to on campus, online and hybrid offerings.

In-state tuition is set at $215 per credit for New Hampshire residents, a full-time course-load of 30 credits per year costs $6,450 plus fees. Ninety-three percent of CCSNH students are New Hampshire residents. The rate for students in the New England Regional compact is $323 per credit, and the out-of-state rate is $490 per credit.

“The message we want to send to students and families is that there are affordable, accessible and high-quality college opportunities in their home state and right in their communities,” said CCSNH board chair Katharine Bogle Shields. “We also want policy-makers to see we are committed to being responsible stewards as we continue to focus on the needs of New Hampshire’s economy and skilled workforce.”

CCSNH stated it works with students to identify federal financial aid, as well as scholarship support through the Foundation for New Hampshire Community Colleges. There is additional funding available to help Pell-eligible students bridge the gap between grants and scholarships and the cost of tuition and fees through the state-funded Promise Program this fall.

“We want to ensure that high-quality postsecondary education is within reach for all New Hampshire families, whether they are looking for technical training for the trades, preparing for careers in healthcare, or building a strong foundation for pursuing a college degree in virtually any field,” said Mark Rubinstein, chancellor of the Community College System of New Hampshire. “A healthy and thriving community college system means a healthy and thriving workforce pipeline for our statewide business community.”

The state's community colleges serve 24,000 students annually in degree and certificate programs, dual-credit courses for NH high school students, non-credit offerings, and customized training with businesses, and through its workforce program, ApprenticeshipNH, according to CCSNH,.