A free tuition program will begin next fall at all colleges within the University System of New Hampshire.
The program, the New Hampshire Promise, was launched on Thursday to make higher education more affordable for Granite State families earning up to $100,000.
Incoming first-year students who are New Hampshire residents and transfer students who have graduated with an associate degree from a New Hampshire community college are eligible. A GPA of 2.7 or above from a student’s prior school is also required.
The University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University and Keene State College make up USNH. Students who are admitted to any of the three colleges and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will automatically be considered for the New Hampshire Promise. Students do not need to fill out a separate application.
The school system spent 18 months working on the program and examining data to make sure the initiative was sustainable, said Kim DeRego, vice provost of enrollment management at UNH and chief enrollment officer for USNH.
DeRego said all of the university system’s campuses have been impacted by budget cuts, so administrators have had to make hard decisions to ensure they have funds to invest in priority areas.
“Preserving the student academic experience and providing affordability in the form of scholarship programs like this is one of our top priorities, and so that’s really where we’re investing,” DeRego said.
The New Hampshire Promise will replace the university system’s Granite Guarantee program, which provided free tuition to Pell-eligible students. USNH undergraduates who are currently enrolled and part of the program will remain in Granite Guarantee to prevent any disruption in financial aid benefits.
DeRego said by changing the program to use a total family income requirement, she hopes more families will know whether or not they will be eligible even before starting the college search process.
“We’re really hoping to inspire more families to apply because they will have much more confidence that they will be eligible for the program,” DeRego said.
While the program covers tuition, it does not cover housing, food, books, or fees. More information can be found on USNH’s website: https://www.usnh.edu/our-institutions/new-hampshire-promise.
