Last in the Nation: NH’s Failure to Invest in Higher Education
- Amplify NH
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
This month, college students across the country are preparing to return to campus. However, thanks to the state’s lack of investment in higher education institutions, many college students in New Hampshire are left grappling with higher tuition costs and fees, paying more for less as funding gaps limit their access to campus resources.
And, according to a new report from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, New Hampshire’s status as last in the nation for state aid for higher education is poised to have devastating consequences. Let’s take a look:
New Report Flags NH’s Underinvestment in Higher Education
Last week, the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) released a report highlighting that “New Hampshire consistently trails all other U.S. states in public higher education funding.”
This report comes soon after Republicans in Concord passed a state budget that cut $35 million to the University System of New Hampshire, which includes UNH, Keene State College, Plymouth State University. Additionally, these cuts forced UNH to raise tuition, as well as eliminate nearly 70 positions.
Compared to other states, New Hampshire appropriated $4,629 per full-time student while the national average of all U.S. states was $11,683. This lack of investment has caused in-state students to look outside of New Hampshire for cheaper college education in order to not be handicapped with crippling student debt upon graduation.
“All of that means tuition plus mandatory fees for an in-state student to attend UNH in Durham now sits at $19,682 a year. If your in-state student plans to live and eat on campus, that’s another $14,700 or so, plus another $5,000 in “miscellaneous” and other costs, according to UNH’s financial aid breakdown,” said Dana Wormald of the New Hampshire Bulletin in response to the NHFPI report.
“So, about $40,000 a year, or $160,000 per undergraduate degree, for a New Hampshire kid to get a University of New Hampshire education. Add it up, and that’s an awfully big debt hole for a 22-year-old, highly educated adult to start out in, isn’t it?”
Despite signing the state budget into law that implements these devastating higher education cuts, New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte’s words once again contradict her actions. Ayotte maintains that she was not in support of the cuts, stating that she hopes to ask the Legislative Fiscal Committee next year to give four-year colleges more state aid as long as state revenues come in over forecast.
“The university system is very important but enrollment trends are down so we need to look at ways we can do things differently,” said Ayotte. “One of those ways is to increase the cooperation between the community college and university system so students seamlessly can go from a two-year to a four-year degree if they decide that works best for them.”
Longterm Repercussions Loom
Following the release of the report, experts are sounding the alarm as to how the state’s underinvestment now could be detrimental to New Hampshire’s economy and workforce development down the road.
“Our findings should serve as a wake-up call. 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,” said Nicole Heller, author of the study and a senior policy analyst at NHFPI.
“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.”
The NHFPI report notes that four of the top 10 job growth sectors in New Hampshire require a four-year degree: software developers, general and operations managers, financial managers, and nurse practitioners. Without access to affordable educational opportunities in the state, these sectors are likely to feel the brunt of these cuts, leading to even more workforce shortages across New Hampshire, as well as curtailing the further development of these critical industries.
“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.”
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Thank you,
Ryan Mahoney
Executive Director