Nursing Schools in New Hampshire
Saint Anselm College in Manchester offers two bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) tracks: a four-year pre-licensure program and a post-licensure RN-to-BSN. Coursework covers critical care nursing, medical ethics, and nursing research.
- Programs: BSN pre-licensure; BSN post-licensure
- Campus: Manchester
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $42,550 per year (plus a $1,055 clinical nursing fee for upperclassmen per semester and a $530 clinical nursing fee for sophomores in spring semester only)
- Admission Requirements: Common Application and essay; high school transcript meeting college requirements; SAT or ACT scores; school report and counselor recommendation; teacher recommendation
- Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years (pre-licensure BSN)
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $68,860 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
The University of New Hampshire in Durham runs a 133-credit BSN built around evidence-based practice and patient-centered care. Students study topics like child health nursing and clinical judgment in complex illness and complete clinical work throughout the program.
- Program: BSN
- Campus: Durham
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $15,520 per year in-state; $33,760 per year out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: High school, GED, or HiSET transcript; recommendation letter; chemistry and biology or physics prerequisites
- Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 98.5% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $62,620 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Keene State College offers a 120-credit interdisciplinary BSN open to first-year students, with courses like nursing leadership and fundamentals of patient-centered care. The program admits a 32-student cohort each year.
- Program: BSN
- Campus: Keene
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $11,754 per year in-state; $22,110 per year out-of-state. Pre-licensure nursing students pay a $500 tuition differential for each of their four clinical semesters.
- Admission Requirements: High school transcript, minimum 3.25 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $62,840 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Nashua Community College offers an associate degree in nursing (ADN) that prepares students for the NCLEX-RN. Coursework includes pharmacology for nursing practice, fundamental concepts for nursing practice, and management of nursing care across the lifespan.
- Program: ADN
- Campus: Nashua
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $215 per credit in-state; $323 per credit through the New England Regional Student Program; $490 per credit out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: Attend a nursing information session; complete prerequisites; submit two professional references; pass the pre-admission exam
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 81.8% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $47,950 for associate graduates (College Scorecard)
Manchester Community College runs a two-year ADN that pairs classroom learning with clinical experience, covering topics like microbiology and human growth and development.
- Program: ADN
- Campus: Manchester
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $166 per credit in-state; $249 per credit through the New England Regional Student Program; $498 per credit out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: Attend a nursing information session; high school algebra, chemistry, and biology with a "C" or better; two professional references; satisfactory Test of Essential Academic Skills scores
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2 years
White Mountains Community College in Berlin offers a two-year ADN that prepares students to become RNs, with offsite clinical rotations, lectures, and simulation lab practice. Students can enroll part time or full time, and qualified LPNs can transfer into the second semester when seats are available.
- Program: ADN
- Campus: Berlin
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $215 per credit in-state; $323 per credit through the New England Regional Student Program; $490 per credit out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: 60% or better on the Test of Essential Academic Skills; high school transcripts; two professional references
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
Colby-Sawyer College in New London offers four BSN and MSN programs, including online and accelerated options. The curriculum includes individual and group research, lab work, and clinical experience at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
- Programs: BSN; accelerated BSN; online RN-to-BSN; MSN
- Campus: New London
- Type: Private
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: Varies by program
- Admission Requirements: Vary by program
- Minimum Time Commitment: 16 months (accelerated and online BSN)
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $65,800 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Lakes Region Community College in Laconia offers a two-year, 70-credit ADN with courses like anatomy and physiology and ethics issues.
- Program: ADN
- Campus: Laconia
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $215 per credit in-state; $323 per credit through the New England Regional Student Program; $490 per credit out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: High school or college chemistry, biology, and algebra with a "C" or better; high school transcripts; criminal background check and Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services check; Test of Essential Academic Skills exam
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 100% first-time
Plymouth State University runs a 121-credit, four-year BSN with courses like maternal and newborn care and evidence-based practice in medical surgical nursing. The program accepts applications year-round.
- Program: BSN
- Campus: Plymouth
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $11,870 per year in-state; $18,280 per year through the New England Regional Program; $21,280 per year out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: Required college preparatory coursework; high school or GED transcripts; one recommendation letter; an essay
- Minimum Time Commitment: 4 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 90% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $67,320 for bachelor's graduates (College Scorecard)
Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth offers a 69-credit, two-year ADN with courses like human anatomy and physiology, quantitative reasoning, and human growth and development. The school gives preference to applicants who have finished anatomy and physiology and to LNAs or high school health occupation students.
- Program: ADN
- Campus: Portsmouth
- Type: Public
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $215 per credit in-state; $323 per credit through the New England Regional Student Program; $490 per credit out-of-state
- Admission Requirements: High school or GED diploma; high school algebra, chemistry, and biology with a "C" or better; 66% or better on the Test of Essential Academic Skills; two professional references
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2 years
- NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 86.4% first-time
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $59,010 for associate graduates (College Scorecard)
How to Choose a Nursing Program in New Hampshire
Decide what matters most before you start comparing schools. Weigh tuition, program length and structure, and financial aid. NCLEX pass rates tell you how well a program prepares students for licensure, so use them. Limit your search to accredited programs.
Why Become a Nurse in New Hampshire
The education is strong, the pass rates are high, and the license travels. New Hampshire is an active member of the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), so an RN licensed here can practice in other compact states, including by telehealth across state lines, with minimal extra paperwork. As of 2026, 41 states participate in the compact.
Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in New Hampshire
Depending on the role, New Hampshire ranks in the middle of the pack nationally for nurse pay. For current national benchmarks, the median wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024, and the median for nurse anesthetists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners was $132,050 (BLS). Figures from an earlier BLS state release put New Hampshire's averages near these national levels: certified nursing assistants around $34,500, licensed practical nurses around $56,400, registered nurses around $75,970, and nurse practitioners around $112,460. Confirm the latest New Hampshire-specific wages in the current BLS OEWS state data.
Nationally, RN employment is projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034 with about 189,100 openings a year, and APRN employment is projected to grow 35% over the same period (BLS). Within the state, the highest-paying metro areas sit in the southeast corner near the coast, led by Portsmouth, Manchester, and Dover-Durham.
Steps to Becoming a Nurse in New Hampshire
Finish a program approved by the New Hampshire Board of Nursing, pass the NCLEX-RN, then apply for state licensure. After gaining experience, an RN can complete a graduate program and pursue advanced practice (APRN) licensure. Both RNs and APRNs have continuing education requirements to keep their license active.
RN Requirements
Earn an ADN or BSN from a program the board accredits, pass the NCLEX-RN, then apply for licensure and complete a criminal background check. To renew, RNs need 400 working hours within four years of applying and 30 continuing education hours in the previous two years.
APRN Requirements
Earn an MSN or doctor of nursing practice from an accredited program, then pass a national certification exam in a state-recognized specialty. New Hampshire accepts certification from:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
- American Midwifery Certification Board
- National Board of Certification & Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists
- National Certification Corporation for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties
- Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
To renew, APRNs complete 30 continuing education hours in their specialty plus the 30 hours required for their RN license. Five hours must be in pharmacology, and three of those must cover opioid prescribing, pain management, or substance abuse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing in New Hampshire
Can I use a New Hampshire license in other states? Yes. New Hampshire is an active Nurse Licensure Compact state, so a multistate license issued here lets you practice in other compact states without applying for a separate license.
How long does licensure take? After earning your ADN or BSN, you submit fingerprints and an authorization form for a background check, verify New Hampshire residency, and have your school send final transcripts to the board. The process can take up to eight weeks.
Where can I find financial aid? New Hampshire's Department of Education lists student aid options, and organizations like the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation and GraniteEdvance (formerly the New Hampshire Higher Education Assistance Foundation) help students apply for funding.
What does license renewal require? RNs need 400 hours of experience within four years and 30 continuing education hours within two years of applying. APRNs meet all RN renewal requirements plus 30 additional continuing education hours, five of them in pharmacology, with three covering opioid prescribing, pain management, or substance abuse.