General Information
The University
UNH offers 275-plus degree programs across 11 schools and colleges to some 14,000 undergraduate and graduate students. There are thousands of courses to choose from, and most enroll no more than 50 students, helping create a 16:1 student-to-faculty ratio that gives UNH students direct access to award-winning faculty. With three out of four undergraduates also completing at least one internship, experiential learning and thoughtful classroom discussions are hallmarks of the UNH experience.
The goal is to help each student become the kind of person the world most needs. And it’s working: The UNH Class of 2022 boasts a 94% success rate, with 77% of students employed within 12 months after graduation and another 17% seeking further education. Additionally, the significant majority of employed graduates — 89% — reported that their job was directly or somewhat related to their major. That kind of return on investment is what led UNH to be ranked the No. 1 best value public university in New England for the second consecutive year in 2022 and a top-10 best value public university in the country, according to the Best Value Schools rankings of National Universities by U.S. News & World Report.
UNH students and faculty have been collaborating to make the world a better place for more than 150 years, and not just in the classroom — from the uncharted ocean depths to the edge of our solar system to the Earth we all share, our research transforms lives and delivers solutions to global problems. Powered by more than $190 million in competitive external support, UNH is one of just 146 doctoral-granting universities in the country — and one of only 47 without a medical school — to earn the "very high research activity," or R1, designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Undergraduates in every academic discipline enjoy broad access to research experiences – two out of three professors mentor undergraduates on research – and can even get funding to pursue them through the university’s Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research. Many conduct independent inquires, an experience that gives them a leg up on graduate school and employment applications.
We know that students who graduate with hands-on, real-world experience are more likely to have successful careers, so in addition to all the classroom learning and research, UNH offers 250+ study abroad programs, a robust career and internship center and a dedicated fellowships office, all of which help students find opportunities that bolster their academic and career goals. Our entrepreneurship center helps aspiring business owners make their dreams reality.
Academic excellence with an impact beyond the classroom. Top-ranked programs across a remarkable array of majors and disciplines. Inspiring professors who make a difference in the lives of their students. Research innovation changing the world. Prepared, successful graduates. You’ll find all of that and a lot more at UNH.
More information
Mission
The University of New Hampshire is the state’s flagship public research university, providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate programs and graduate programs of distinction. Its primary purpose is learning: students collaborating with faculty in teaching, research, creative expression and service. UNH has a national and international agenda and holds land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant charters. From its main campus in Durham, its college in Manchester and the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law in Concord, the university serves New Hampshire and the region through continuing education, cooperative extension, cultural outreach, economic development activities and applied research.
UNH is distinguished by its commitment to high quality undergraduate instruction, select excellence in graduate education, relatively small size, a location in a beautiful and culturally rich part of the seacoast of New England and a strong sense of responsibility for this special place, a commitment to serving the public good and our emergence over the past decade as a significant research institution. The dedication of our faculty to the highest academic standards infuses all we do with the excitement of discovery.
Strategic Priorities
https://www.unh.edu/leadership/future
UNH President James W. Dean Jr. announced four strategic priorities in January 2019 that continue to guide UNH toward a bold, overarching aspiration – to be among the nation’s top 25 public universities in the most important measures of academic performance. Drawing on input from thousands of UNH community members, each of the four priorities includes new and existing initiatives and metrics that will direct and measure progress in these important areas. The list of initiatives is not exhaustive. Rather, it brings attention to some of the leading efforts we are driving to move these strategic priorities forward.
Enhance Student Success and Well-Being
Aspiration
UNH will ensure that all students graduate on time and are engaged and ethical global citizens. They will be prepared to thrive in their first jobs and throughout their careers. UNH will become a national leader in designing the educational experience from the first year to graduation.
Expand Academic and Research Excellence
Aspiration
UNH will attract increasingly strong and diverse students and faculty from across the country and abroad. The university will be known and respected for the high caliber of teaching, research and advising in its academic programs. Its distinguished research, scholarship and doctoral education will be recognized worldwide, including its contributions to global sustainability challenges.
Embrace New Hampshire
Aspiration
UNH will work hard to make everyone in New Hampshire incredibly proud of their flagship public university. Students will grow up here wanting to come to UNH, and it will be the first choice for the best and brightest students from New Hampshire and around the world. UNH will build collaborations that support New Hampshire’s economy and quality of life, sustainability and resilience and will be a trusted, valuable and consistent partner.
Build Financial Strength
Aspiration
UNH will be a national leader in long-term cost management, sustainable investing and aligning its budget and resources with its strategic priorities. UNH will become more accessible and affordable for students by diversifying revenue sources and managing resource use and expenses. UNH will meet the full range of student needs by providing world-class faculty, facilities and organization.
University System of New Hampshire Trustees and Administrative Officers
The University System of New Hampshire is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising the Governor of the State, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, members appointed by the Governor and Executive Council, alumni-elected members, student-elected members, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the presidents of the University System's colleges and universities, and the Chancellor. The Chancellor is the chief executive officer of the University System. The Board composition is stipulated by State law and is detailed in the USNH Charter, section 187- A: 13.