Nashua, New Hampshire Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
Executive Summary (TL;DR)
Colleges in Nashua, New Hampshire: median public in-state tuition $23,438 (+311.2% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $72,105 (+21.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 94.2% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $14,250 (+5.6% vs U.S.) 2,459 students enrolled statewide.
Overview
Colleges and universities in Nashua serve students across New Hampshire with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 3 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 2,459 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $23,438. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Nashua, New Hampshire and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Nashua vs New Hampshire & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, New Hampshire | $23,438 | $17,397 | $14,250 | 55.5% | 2,459 |
| New Hampshire (state median) | $7,650 | $10,357 | $17,124 | 58.0% | 201,244 |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Nashua, New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, New Hampshire | $72,105 | 94.2% | 75.7% | 3.5% | — | 77.7% | 0.34 |
| New Hampshire (state median) | $68,032 | 95.4% | 76.2% | 3.2% | — | 82.6% | 0.35 |
| United States | $59,401 | 93.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.8% | 0.36 |
Other cities in New Hampshire (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashua, New Hampshire | $23,438 | $17,397 | $14,250 | 55.5% | 2,459 | $72,105 | 94.2% |
| Manchester | $16,612 | $13,247 | $25,000 | 52.6% | 168,438 | $71,477 | 95.4% |
| Keene | $15,154 | $16,976 | $25,816 | 56.2% | 2,749 | $62,326 | 95.9% |
| Concord | $7,650 | $10,176 | $19,625 | N/A | 2,154 | N/A | N/A |
| Concord | $7,650 | $10,176 | $19,625 | N/A | 2,154 | N/A | N/A |
| Concord | $7,650 | $10,176 | $19,625 | N/A | 2,154 | N/A | N/A |
| Portsmouth | $7,650 | $16,168 | $11,916 | N/A | 1,332 | N/A | N/A |
| Portsmouth | $7,650 | $16,168 | $11,916 | N/A | 1,332 | N/A | N/A |
| Laconia | $7,170 | $9,579 | $9,442 | N/A | 574 | N/A | N/A |
| United States | $5,700 | $9,912 | $13,500 | 49.3% | 14,465,291 | $59,401 | 93.0% |
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 55.5%, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 94.2%, Rivier University
Rivier University
Most selective college in Nashua, New Hampshire (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 82.6%, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $84,095, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $91,727, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $63,114, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $66,195, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $72,105, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $202,294, Rivier University
Rivier University
Most affordable college in Nashua, New Hampshire (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $26,585, Rivier University
Rivier University
Top college in Nashua, New Hampshire by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 75.7%, Rivier University
Rivier University
In-state tuition: Nashua, New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Nashua, New Hampshire median in-state tuition is $23,438, +311.2% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Nashua, New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Nashua, New Hampshire is $14,250 (+5.6% vs U.S. median $13,500). Regional median: $17,562.
Median earnings (10 years out): Nashua, New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Nashua, New Hampshire center around $72,105 (+21.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Nashua, New Hampshire vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 94.2% at the median Nashua, New Hampshire campus (+1.2 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Nashua, New Hampshire median public in-state tuition is $23,438, about +311.2% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +141.4%.
Median graduate debt is $14,250 (+5.6% above the U.S. median of $13,500). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Nashua, New Hampshire are $72,105, about +21.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($59,401).
The median campus reports 94.2% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 93.0% (+1.2 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 75.7% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.5% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 77.7% (U.S. 73.8%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Rivier University (94.2%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Nashua, New Hampshire is 55.5% (national institution average about 49.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Nashua?
This city profile covers 3 campuses in Nashua, New Hampshire with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Nashua?
Median in-state tuition in Nashua is $23,438 and median net price is $17,397. For New Hampshire overall, medians are $7,650 and $10,357; U.S. medians are $5,700 and $9,912.
What do graduates earn in Nashua?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Nashua is $72,105 vs $68,032 for New Hampshire and $59,401 nationally.
What is student debt like for Nashua colleges?
Median completer debt in Nashua is $14,250 vs $17,124 for New Hampshire and $13,500 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Nashua?
Top campuses on this page include Rivier University (graduation) and Rivier University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Nashua?
Among 3 campuses in Nashua, New Hampshire, 1 campus reports at least 25% Hispanic undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Department of Education data; examples include Nashua Community College; 2 religiously affiliated private nonprofit campuses (IPEDS RELAFFIL); most common affiliations: Roman Catholic (2).
Sources & related
- New Hampshire college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
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