Southern New Hampshire University Tuition and Fees

By Susan Guillory

(Last Updated – 05/2023)

Total Cost of Attendance

Considered one of the “Best Regional Universities” by U.S. News & World Report, Southern New Hampshire University offers a stellar education, both in person and online. SNHU tuition for the 2022-23 academic year was $15,380. This is substantially lower than the national average for four-year private nonprofit institutions of $39,400 per year.

Costs for 2022-23

Financial Aid

Most students (86%) receive student loans, grants, or scholarships to help with SNHU tuition.

Generally, financial aid is monetary assistance awarded to students based on personal need and merit. Students that qualify for financial aid can use it to pay for college costs like tuition, books, and living expenses.

The federal government is the largest provider of student financial aid. However, aid can also be given by state governments, colleges and universities, private companies, and nonprofits. The different types include:

•  Scholarships: These can be awarded by schools and other organizations based on students’ academic excellence, athletic achievement, community involvement, job experience, field of study, and financial need.

•  Grants: Generally based on financial need, these can come from federal, state, private, and non-profit organizations.

•  Work-study: This federal program provides qualifying students with part-time employment to earn money for expenses while in school.

•  Federal student loans: This is money borrowed directly from the U.S. Department of Education. It comes with fixed interest rates that are typically lower than private loans.

Colleges, universities, and state agencies use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine financial aid eligibility. The FAFSA can be completed online, but note that state and federal and school deadlines may differ.

You can find other financial aid opportunities on databases such as:

•  US Department of Education – Search for grants from colleges and universities by state

•  College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS) – A global college scholarship application used by select institutions to award financial aid

Recommended: The Differences Between Grants, Scholarships, and Loans

Private Student Loans

Of those that receive student loans, 50% take out federal student loans and less than 1% take out private loans. The average private student loan amount is $7,258.

Private loans are funded by private organizations such as banks, online lenders, credit unions, some schools, and state-based or state-affiliated organizations. While Federal student loans have interest rates that are regulated by Congress, private lenders follow a different set of regulations so their qualifications and interest rates can vary widely.

What’s more, private loans have variable or fixed interest rates that may be higher than federal loan interest rates, which are always fixed. Private lenders may (but don’t always) require you to make payments on your loans while you are still in school, compared to federal student loans which you don’t have to start paying back until after you graduate, leave school, or change your enrollment status to less than half-time.

Private loans don’t have a specific application window and can be applied for on an as-needed basis. However, if you think you may need to take out a private loan, it’s a good idea to submit your FAFSA first to see what federal aid you may qualify for as it generally may have better rates and terms.

If you’ve missed the FAFSA deadline or you’re struggling to pay for school throughout the year, private loans can potentially help you make your payments. Just keep in mind that you will need enough lead time for your loan to process and for your lender to send money to your school.

Recommended: Guide to Private Student Loans

Projected 4-Year-Degree Price

SNHU tuition, room and board, books, and other expenses for four years would be $149,120. This is far more affordable than the national average for private four-year colleges of $230,280 for four years, according to CollegeData.com.

This Student Loan & Scholarship Information may be helpful in understanding options for financing four years at SNHU.

Undergraduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

In 2022-23, SNHU students paid $15,380 for tuition and fees and $11,800 for room and board, for a total of $27,180. The average for private schools in the U.S. is almost double that at $53,430 per year.

Graduate Tuition and Fees

Costs for 2022-23

Southern New Hampshire University offers several graduate programs. SNHU tuition for graduate school is $18,900 per year, with $570 in fees. This is less than the average cost of graduate school in the United States of $23,130 per year. There are graduate loans available to help with these costs.

Cost per Credit Hour

Another option is to attend SNHU part-time, and in that case, you would pay $515 per credit as an undergraduate and $721 as a graduate student.

Campus Housing Expenses

Costs for 2022-23

SNHU offers five residence halls, primarily for freshmen and sophomores, as well as residence apartments for juniors and seniors.

Those who choose to live off campus will find many options for apartments, houses, and duplexes near campus.

Southern New Hampshire University Acceptance Rate

Fall 2021

The SNHU acceptance rate is high at 92%.

Admission Requirements

Southern New Hampshire University has a few requirements for applicants, as well as some recommended documents you may want to submit.

Required:

•  Official high school transcript (or GED)

•  One letter of recommendation from a school counselor or teacher

Recommended:

•  SAT or ACT scores

The deadline for Early Action is November 15, and February 1 for Priority. You can apply here .

SAT and ACT Scores

You are not required to submit SAT or ACT test scores to apply at SNHU.

Popular Majors at Southern New Hampshire University

SNHU offers a variety of fields of study, both online and on campus, as well as hybrid programs. Here are the most popular majors.

1. Business Administration

The most popular major at SNHU is business administration. There are ample areas of concentration to choose from: accounting, aviation management, business analytics, finance, global business, hospitality business, human resource management, international business, and more.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 4,481

2. Psychology

Students can opt for online or on-campus studies in psychology or counseling, where they will develop critical thinking and communication skills while learning about human behavior.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 2,244

3. Liberal Arts

SNHU offers several Bachelor’s degrees in liberal arts, including communication, creative writing and English (fiction or nonfiction writing), economics, finance, English (literature or professional writing), history, and liberal arts.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 1,250

4. Healthcare Administration

This program offers a Bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in healthcare administration. Coursework includes healthcare economics, healthcare strategic management and policy, and organizational behavior.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 1,186

5. Criminal Justice

Interested in bringing justice to the court system? Earning a Bachelor of Science degree in justice studies, you can choose a concentration in crime and criminology, law and legal process, policing and law enforcement, or terrorism and homeland security.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 779

6. Nursing

SNHU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing is online and can be completed in as little as one year. You will learn safe nursing practices, strategies to improve patient health, and communication skills.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 760

7. Communication

The communication program offers concentrations in business communication, new media, professional writing, and public relations.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 595

8. Accounting

The accounting program is available both online and on campus. Courses include professional communication in accounting, Microsoft Excel for accountants, and fundamentals of financial accounting.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 540

9. Creative Writing

A degree in creative writing can prepare you to become a professional writer or to have a career in creative writing, publishing, journalism, law, or communications.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 532

10. Computer Science

You can earn a BS in computer science with a concentration in: data analysis, information security, machine learning, project management, or software engineering.

Undergraduate degrees in 2021-22: 437

Learn more about the programs you can major in at SHNU here .

Graduation Rate

Here’s the graduation rate for students who started studying at Southern New Hampshire University in 2015:

•  4 years: 31%

•  6 years: 37%

Post-Graduation Median Earnings

After graduating, students from SNHU earn, on average, $53,611 per year. This is below the national average for four-year schools of $55,260.