New Hampshire has a serious problem with retaining young people. A staggering 59% of high schoolers seek a four-year degree out of state. It’s not surprising: We are home to the highest in-state tuition of any public university in the country, and Gov. Chris Sununu isn’t doing much to change that.
I’m a high school junior exploring my college options. College in New Hampshire would cost about $6,000 more in tuition than in any other state. New Hampshire college graduates begin their careers with more student loan debt than anywhere else in the country. The average four-year college graduate in New Hampshire has over $36,000 in student loan debt.
Gov. Sununu’s budget in 2016 flat-funded the University System of New Hampshire, and he proposed the same in this year’s biennium budget. The governor talks about workforce challenges in New Hampshire. He needs to start by keeping and attracting prospective college students. To get on par with the national average in-state tuition, New Hampshire would need to lower public college tuition by a staggering 28%.
Fortunately, the House budget proposed a significant increase in funds for USNH. This will begin to take our state in the right direction. Lower costs for higher education will make it financially prudent for students like me to stay here.
It’s time for Gov. Sununu to prioritize the next generation of Granite Staters. It’s time for him to join with the Democrats in the House and invest in higher education.
MARLEY TIRRELL
Henniker