UNH Today

New student enrollment at the University of New Hampshire held steady from last year, with 3,203 new students arriving on campus this fall. That number includes 2,605 first-year students on the Durham campus, as well as 135 students at the College of Professional Studies in Manchester and 420 transfer students in Durham.  

“Given the declining number of high school age students in our region, as well as the challenges presented by last cycle’s federal financial aid delays, we are extremely proud of this result,” UNH President Elizabeth Chilton says.  

A record 22,931 students applied to UNH this year.  

“The quality of the applicant pool was exceptional,” said Kim DeRego, vice president of enrollment management. “We received so many applications from students who were active in their schools and communities, as well as academically talented.”  

This year’s freshman class is the most diverse ever, with 12% students of color. However, this year’s class also included the fewest first-generation college students in a decade at 19%, a trend DeRego described as “incredibly troubling.” 

“Going to college is a key indicator of social mobility,” DeRego said. “If fewer first-generation students have access to a college education, that has ramifications for families, society, and the economy for decades to come.”

For the College of Professional Studies, new student numbers (including re-enrollees) represent an increase of about 100 students over last year. CPS records also indicate that 35% of active and enrolled students are first-generation. Average credit load also increased year over year, from 7.91 to 8.73.

Other facts about this year’s incoming class: 

• The largest proportion of students was from New Hampshire (46%) followed by Massachusetts (30%), Connecticut (6%) and Maine (4%). Overall, the freshman class includes students from 34 states.  
• The class is 56% female, 44% male.
• The average high school GPA was 3.65 and average SAT score was 1208. 
• Class features 293 honors students and 720 Trustee scholars, both increased from last year.
• Undeclared students made up the largest portion of the population, followed by business administration, psychology and nursing.  

“We are incredibly proud of this stellar group of students and look forward to seeing them thrive at UNH,” Chilton says.