University of New Hampshire
Initially founded in 1866 with the goal of "fostering an educated citizenry, the University of New Hampshire is the state's major flagship public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research institution. In addition to its main 2,600-acre rural campus in Durham on the Seacoast, UNH has a satellite location in Manchester and the capital of Concord. In all, UNH educates more than 12,500 undergraduates and 2,100 post-graduates every year. Across its 11 distinct academic colleges, the University of New Hampshire delivers over 2,000 courses and 100 majors, including several with online learning options. UNH maintains a low student-faculty ratio of 19:1 and a high freshman retention rate of 87 percent.
Thanks to its long-standing commitment to excellence, UNH has been ranked the nation's 99th best university and 45th top public school by the U.S. News and World Report. It has the country's 115th best education school and 87th top law school. Along with being a "Best in the Northeast" school, the University of New Hampshire was crowned the 10th best entrepreneurial college by the Princeton Review. UNH is highly regarded in Sierra magazine as America's 6th "coolest school." With their eco-friendly campus practices, UNH earned an A- report card grade and a spot in the country's top 15 colleges for sustainability. The University of New Hampshire is also the only New England institution to rank in the top 10 of Fulbright fellowships.
University of New Hampshire Accreditation Details
The University of New Hampshire is formally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), the country's oldest regional accrediting body approved by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Furthermore, several of UNH's academic departments have pursued discipline-specific accreditations. Business programs are accredited by the elite Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. Education degrees are given the stamp of approval by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Social work programs meet the accrediting standards of the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) too.
University of New Hampshire Application Requirements
UNH is fairly selective with an acceptance rate of 77 percent, so you'll need to meet certain admissions requirements prior to application. Graduate students wishing to obtain an online master's degree from the University of New Hampshire must already have a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year institution. Most programs will require incoming applicants have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. Earning a satisfactory score on the GMAT or GRE within the last five years is also required. Some degrees, like the Online MBA, prefer graduate candidates who have two or more years of professional experience. Certain programs, such as the Online MSW, will require a broad liberal arts background too.
Before the designated deadlines in fall, spring, and summer, interested applicants should submit an online admissions application with these supporting materials:
- Official transcripts from each college attended
- Graduate entrance exam scores
- Three letters of recommendation
- A signed proof of residence form
- One two to four-page personal statement
- Payment for the $65 application fee
Tuition and Financial Aid
The U.S. Department of Education has sadly ranked UNH for having America's fourth most expensive in-state tuition among public universities. Residents pursuing one of the online master's programs at the University of New Hampshire can expect to pay an in-state graduate tuition rate of $6,750 per semester or $13,500 each year. Out-of-state graduate students must afford $13,230 per semester or $26,460 annually for their online master's. This works out to $750 per credit for New Hampshire residents and $825 per credit for non-residents. Graduate students may also need to budget for the $500 master's research fee, $473 business fee, and $96 technology fee every semester.
For covering these costs, the University of New Hampshire automatically considers incoming students for financial aid with their FAFSA form. Perkins loans, Direct loans, PLUS loans, and private alternative loans are accepted, but students should be careful in their borrowing. Free gifted money is available for some financially needy students through the Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, TEACH Grant, and UNH Grant. There's a New Hampshire Tuition Waiver offered for former foster youth. Scholarship opportunities are abundant at UNH, including the Hamel Scholarship, Governor's Success Scholarship, and Presidential Scholarship. Graduate students could also receive Summer Teaching Assistant Fellowship awards for funding.
Online Degrees Available
UNH Online as cultivated a strong, supportive community for students to engage in online learning experiences within their busy schedules. The University of New Hampshire offers meaningful virtual classroom interaction through email, discussion boards, telephone, Skype, web chatting, and video calls. Students are able to earn the same respected UNH degree with high-quality technology solutions and scheduling flexibility. Online classes follow the same course terms in fall, Jterm, spring, and summer. The three master's programs offered by UNH fully online are:
Master of Business Administration Online
In the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics, the AACSB-accredited Master of Business Administration (MBA) Online program is available for working business practitioners to advance their professional capacity. Featuring no campus visits, the online asynchronous program can be completed in two to six years from anywhere worldwide. It's innovative 36-credit curriculum includes courses on economics, accounting, information systems, marketing, finance, management, organizational behavior, and more. It was named the Granite State's Best MBA Program by the NH Business Review.
Online Master of Education in Educational Studies
Designed for practicing teachers and school specialists, the Online Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Studies program is delivered 100 percent online with a total of 30 credits. Offered for completion in as little as 14 months, the online asynchronous program is focused on expanding students' knowledge of educational practice to positively change public and private school communities. Nearly 95 percent of graduates pass the Praxis exam, which is higher than the state's average. Online learners can expect courses in educational evaluation, educational policy, technology in education, education law, STEM education, research methods, and teaching analysis.
Master of Social Work Online
Boasting a CSWE-accredited advanced generalist curriculum, the Master of Social Work Online at UNH can be completed online in just 28 months with two required field internships. The program is designed to educate social work practitioners for effectively serving individuals, families, groups, and communities for optimal human potential in our diverse society. The 62-credit curriculum will delve into social welfare policy, human behavior, cultural diversity, research methods, statistics, and social work practice. At the University of New Hampshire, the online MSW can be combined with a Certificate in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities too.