Community College Tuition Freeze Formalized

Trustees of the Community College Systemof NH (CCSNH) formalized a tuition freeze on Oct. 1 for the current academic year. The colleges had promised a freeze based on the level of state funding in the budget, but could not formally adopt the rate until the state budget was enacted. CCSNH had frozen tuition costs provisionally for the current semester. The board voted on the freeze at its meeting held Oct. 1 at White Mountains Community College in Berlin.

“We recognize the challenge of college affordability for NH families and are pleased that we were able to work with the Governor and New Hampshire Legislature to freeze tuition,” says CCSNH Chancellor Ross Gittell.  “New Hampshire’s community colleges offer a high-quality education, and pathways to four-year colleges and to skilled and high-demand careers. Making sure New Hampshire students can afford postsecondary education is an essential part of our mission to support a strong economy and help NH residents advance.” .

“Employers need a well-educated population in order to have the workforce to grow, and remain in New Hampshire,” says Jeremy Hitchcock, founder and CEO of Dyn, a Manchester-based Internet performance company and a CCSNH trustee. “New Hampshire’s community colleges are essential to a strong economic future for this state.” 

In-state tuition will remain at $200 per credit, or $600 for a 3-credit course. This brings the annual in-state tuition cost of full-time attendance at one of NH’s community colleges to $4,800 to $6,000, depending on course load. The community college system has not raised tuition since 2012.  Last year the community colleges reduced tuition by 5 percent. 

The community college system is working toward a “65 by 25” goal of having 65 percent of the adults in the state with some post-secondary credential by 2025.  The Granite State is presently at 51 percent.  The 65 by 25 goal was recently adopted by the NH Coalition for Business and Education.

The community colleges recently announced a new “Dual Admission” partnership with the University System of NH enabling students to seamlessly move into the Univeristy of Nh, Plymouth, Keene State or Granite State College after earning an associate degree.  It is among the latest transfer partnerships between the community collesg and baccalaureate-granting institutions.