What University of New Hampshire-Main Campus is like

What it's like

UNH is a public research university with a classic college town atmosphere centered in Durham, New Hampshire. The campus maintains a balance between traditional New England academics and modern research activity, attracting a geographically diverse student body with about half from out-of-state. The community emphasizes hands-on learning, sustainability, and interconnection between academic life and residential experience.

Academic feel

UNH is classified as an R1 doctoral university with very high research activity, offering over 200 majors across eleven colleges and schools. Academics emphasize experiential learning through research opportunities, internships, and study abroad programs managed at 22+ international locations. The curriculum includes general education requirements across arts, sciences, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Undergraduate research is particularly supported through programs like UROP and SURF. Strong programs exist in marine biology and oceanography due to coastal proximity, with facilities including the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory and the Shoals Marine Laboratory jointly operated with Cornell.

Social life

Student life centers around residential communities and extensive co-curricular engagement. About 58% of undergraduates live on-campus in various housing options including themed communities and living-learning communities. Campus offers Army and Air Force ROTC, 200+ student organizations, intramural sports, and Greek life with roughly 17% of men and 14% of women participating in fraternities and sororities. Two certified green dining halls provide meals with sustainability focus and accommodations for various dietary needs. The university is located in what sources describe as the nation's number 2 safest college town.

What you should consider

Students seeking hands-on, experiential education in a public university setting thrive at UNH. The institution attracts learners interested in research, internships, and real-world application of coursework. Those valuing geographic and demographic diversity benefit from a student body that is 53% out-of-state and includes international students. Students engaged in outdoor activities and marine sciences find particular advantages given the coastal New Hampshire location and robust programs in oceanography and marine biology.

Strengths

• Classified as an R1 doctoral university with very high research activity and spent $146 million on research and development in 2018, ranking 137th in the nation.[1]
• Offers over 200 majors across eleven colleges and schools, including strong marine biology and oceanography programs enhanced by coastal proximity and facilities like the Jackson Estuarine Laboratory and the Shoals Marine Laboratory jointly operated with Cornell University.[1]
• Provides extensive study abroad opportunities through 22+ managed programs in locations across Europe, Asia, and Africa, plus acceptance of credit from over 300 approved programs through other institutions.[1]
• The University of New Hampshire School of Law is renowned for intellectual property law programs, consistently ranking in the top ten of U.S. News & World Report rankings and ranked 4th nationally in 2012.[1]
• Operates the Parker Media Lab in Dimond Library with professional-grade audio and video recording facilities including a one-button studio, lightboard, and sound isolation studio available for student use.[1]

Weaknesses

• Ranked as the most expensive state-sponsored school in the United States for in-state students and ranks lowest in the country for the amount of subsidy it receives from the state.[2][1]
• In 2012, the Department of Education ranked UNH as having the sixth most expensive in-state tuition for a public four-year college.[1]