Best colleges for Registered Nursing in New Hampshire
Ranked by graduate earnings
Saint Anselm College, Colby-Sawyer College and University of New Hampshire are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New Hampshire by graduate earnings. Saint Anselm College leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $79,609, College Scorecard. Rivier University, University of New Hampshire and Colby-Sawyer College award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New Hampshire: 287, 187 and 95 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 18 New Hampshire colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 1,880 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Anselm College Manchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $79,609 | 85 | 80% | $29,600 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Colby-Sawyer College New London Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $78,856 | 95 | 57% | $21,747 | $27,000 |
| 3 | University of New Hampshire Durham Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,271 | 187 | 76% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | Franklin Pierce University Rindge Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,016 | 41 | 54% | $26,344 | $28,870 |
| 5 | Rivier University Nashua Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,292 | 287 | 52% | $25,065 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Plymouth State University Plymouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $72,906 | 24 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 7 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Online | $85,600 | 729 | 43% | $34,565 | $31,470 |
| 8 | Keene State College Keene Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $74,915 | 18 | 60% | — | $27,000 |
Top 5 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Bay Community College Portsmouth Public · Associate degree | $73,908 | 45 | 34% | — | $28,371 |
| 2 | St Joseph School of Nursing Nashua Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $71,623 | 69 | 100% | — | $24,167 |
| 3 | White Mountains Community College Berlin Public · Associate degree | $67,257 | 24 | 62% | — | $26,875 |
| 4 | River Valley Community College Claremont Public · Associate degree | $75,282 | 52 | 22% | — | $27,824 |
| 5 | NHTI-Concord's Community College Concord Public · Associate degree | $74,512 | 69 | 29% | — | $25,006 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in New Hampshire
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rivier University Nashua Private not-for-profit | 287 | $74,292 |
| 2 | University of New Hampshire Durham Public | 187 | $77,271 |
| 3 | Colby-Sawyer College New London Private not-for-profit | 95 | $78,856 |
| 4 | Saint Anselm College Manchester Private not-for-profit | 85 | $79,609 |
| 5 | Manchester Community College Manchester Public | 65 | Not reported |
| 6 | Franklin Pierce University Rindge Private not-for-profit | 41 | $76,016 |
| 7 | Plymouth State University Plymouth Public | 24 | $72,906 |
| 8 | Nashua Community College Nashua Public | 20 | Not reported |
| 9 | Keene State College Keene Public | 18 | $74,915 |
| 10 | New England College Henniker Private not-for-profit | 16 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 8 New Hampshire colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern New Hampshire University (Online) | Manchester | Private not-for-profit | 729 |
| NHTI-Concord's Community College | Concord | Public | 69 |
| St Joseph School of Nursing | Nashua | Private not-for-profit | 69 |
| River Valley Community College | Claremont | Public | 52 |
| Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth | Public | 45 |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online (Online) | Manchester | Public | 38 |
| White Mountains Community College | Berlin | Public | 24 |
| Lakes Region Community College | Laconia | Public | 16 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in New Hampshire
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in New Hampshire.
Which New Hampshire colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
Rivier University (287 graduates a year), University of New Hampshire (187 graduates a year) and Colby-Sawyer College (95 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in New Hampshire, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 18 New Hampshire colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in New Hampshire?+
By graduate earnings, Saint Anselm College leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in New Hampshire, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $79,609, College Scorecard. Colby-Sawyer College and University of New Hampshire follow. By degrees awarded, Rivier University is the largest, with 287 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in New Hampshire has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Saint Anselm College tops the list at $79,609. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in New Hampshire?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in New Hampshire is $97,900 (median $99,700), across about 15,390 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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