The University System of NH is launching New Hampshire Promise, a new free tuition program. 

The program, beginning in fall 2027, will be aimed at incoming first-year and transfer students from families earning up to $100,000 a year. Those students can have their tuition covered at any USNH institution.

“New Hampshire’s public institutions of higher education are a transformative opportunity for students,” says USNH Chancellor Cathy Provencher. “In launching this new program, all of the university system institutions are working together to make higher education more accessible for more New Hampshire students, enabling them to pursue their dreams right here in the Granite State.” 

Under the terms of the program, NH residents who are admitted as full-time, first-year students or transfers who have graduated from a NH community college, with total family income of up to $100,000, qualify to attend a USNH institution—University of NH, Plymouth State University and Keene State College—tuition-free.? With NH’s median household income of $99,782, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, the program has the potential to benefit a significant portion of the state’s families. 

“The New Hampshire Promise program is an investment in our students and in the future of our state," says Gov. Kelly Ayotte. "By expanding affordable pathways to higher education, we’re creating more opportunities for our young people to pursue good-paying jobs and making it easier for them to build their careers in New Hampshire. I thank the University System of New Hampshire for their efforts to make college more affordable for New Hampshire students and their families.”

Admitted students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically be considered for the New Hampshire Promise program; there is no separate application process. While the program covers tuition, it does not cover housing, food, books, or fees. 

The New Hampshire Promise replaces USNH’s Granite Guarantee program, established in 2017 to provide free tuition to Pell-eligible students. Since its inception, more than 4,000 students have qualified for this program. Currently enrolled USNH undergraduates will remain in Granite Guarantee to ensure no disruption of financial aid benefits.  

Learn more about the New Hampshire Promise at https://www.usnh.edu/our-institutions/new-hampshire-promise.  

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