Accounting Schools in New Hampshire

New Hampshire, known for its White Mountains and no state sales tax, also offers strong opportunities for aspiring accountants. Earning an accounting degree in the state provides access to a profession with stable demand and career versatility.

Some of the roles you may qualify for after earning an accounting degree include those of financial managers, accountants, and personal financial advisors, all vital to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and finance.

Notably, New Hampshire ranks first nationally for economic freedom, creating an attractive environment for business and professional growth. Keep reading to learn more about what New Hampshire can offer.

Accounting programs in New Hampshire combine strong academic opportunities with a rich professional network. The state has a notable history in the field, with Southern New Hampshire University beginning as the New Hampshire Accounting and Secretarial school in 1932.

Today, students can select from a variety of programs at institutions such as the University of New Hampshire, SNHI, and smaller private colleges, many of which offer flexible online or hybrid accounting degrees.

New Hampshire supports students through targeted scholarships. The New Hampshire Society of CPAs awards annual funds to undergraduates, graduate students, and those completing certified public accountant (CPA) licensure requirements, while universities provide their own merit- and need-based scholarships. These resources and relatively high retention and graduation rates help make accounting education accessible and affordable.

In addition to insightful coursework, attending college in New Hampshire provides valuable connections. The state’s finance, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors consistently need skilled accounting professionals, and local firms actively recruit interns and graduates. Studying here allows you to build a professional network where you intend to work, increasing your chances of landing a meaningful and well-paying job after graduation.

Given its relatively small size, New Hampshire has an impressive 26 four-year colleges and 8 two-year colleges, providing plenty of options for resident and non-resident students alike. More than eight in 10 learners decide to pursue online learning, substantially higher than the national average. That said, SNHU is one of the largest online learning options in the country.

The state overperforms national averages for adults over 25 with associate, bachelor’s, and graduate degrees.

When choosing a college in New Hampshire, finding one with proper accreditation ensures your degree qualifies you for financial aid and licensure and is respected by employers. Institutional accreditation evaluates the entire school, while programmatic accreditation applies to specific programs, such as business or accounting.

Since 2020, regional and national institutional accreditations carry equal weight. In New Hampshire, most colleges hold institutional accreditation from the New England Commission on Higher Education, the state’s regional accreditor. For accounting programs, look for specialized approval from bodies such as the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

When looking for programs, consider factors such as cost, curriculum, and learning format. In New Hampshire, 78.2% of learners enroll exclusively online, 4.5% participate in hybrid learning, and 17.3% study fully on campus. This unusually high percentage of distance learners is largely influenced by SNHU, which has over 200,000 online students.

Many students take advantage of SNHU’s flexible format, but traditional universities in the state continue to support campus-based and hybrid pathways. We look at each learning format option below to help you make an informed and confident decision.

Campus-based accounting degrees provide the opportunity to access faculty mentorship, internship pipelines, and close-knit business school communities. Being present on campus also offers unique networking opportunities with regional firms, nonprofits, and CPA societies. If you thrive on structure, face-to-face learning, and hands-on professional engagement, this could be a great option.

Online programs offer the same degree outcomes as campus-based programs but with greater flexibility. Many New Hampshire schools, like SNHU, have robust online offerings. These programs are ideal if you’re a working professional, career changer, or student balancing family responsibilities.

If you want the best of both worlds, hybrid programs combine online coursework with in-person classes, providing flexibility while still ensuring access to faculty, networking events, and campus-based career resources. This program works well if you need the convenience of online learning but don’t want to miss out on strengthening professional connections through face-to-face interactions.

If you’re considering an accounting program in New Hampshire, you’ll find costs vary by school type. Resident students typically pay lower in-state tuition, while non-residents pay higher rates. Notably, private universities in New Hampshire cost significantly less than the national average at $19,557 per year rather than $35,248.

To keep expenses manageable, explore financial aid, scholarships, grants, and fellowships before turning to student loans. You can also benefit from state-specific resources, including scholarships offered by the New Hampshire Society of CPAs. Universities such as UNH and SNHU also provide awards based on need and/or merit.

In New Hampshire, costs differ sharply depending on whether you qualify as a resident of the state. Public four-year rates for residents are around $9,700, while out-of-state rates are at $33,800. To help ease this burden, some colleges participate in the New England Board of Higher Education’s Tuition Break program, which allows students from eligible nearby states to enroll at discounted rates.

Some schools may also offer special tuition categories or scholarships that reduce costs if you’re a non-resident. Exploring these options can make studying in New Hampshire more accessible.

New Hampshire’s cost of living index is 111.4, roughly 11-12% higher than the U.S. average. This means you’ll likely need to budget more strictly than in other states, specifically for rent, utilities, and energy costs.

While costs are higher, New Hampshire does not have sales tax and has a limited tax on wages, which helps offset some expenses.

While demand for accountants is projected to grow by 4.4% nationally between 2022 and 2032, in New Hampshire, growth is projected at 8.3%, or nearly double, during the same time frame.

While the Big Four don’t dominate in the state as they do in large metro hubs, related jobs abound in New Hampshire, especially in larger cities like Manchester, Nashua, and Concord. Many key industries rely on accounting graduates, including healthcare and social assistance, manufacturing, financial services, professional and technical services, and local and state governments.

Because of the state’s strong professional networks, studying accounting in New Hampshire gives you access to internships, mentorships, and job placements with local firms and employers. This close connection between education and industry makes NH an appealing place to start a career. We look at some popular roles for graduates below.

Entry-level roles for bookkeeping and payroll clerks in New Hampshire remain steady with competitive wages, but higher degrees open the door to stronger opportunities.

Bachelor’s or master’s pathways can lead to career openings as a financial manager or budget analyst, which outpace national earnings. If you plan to remain in the state after graduating, consider advancing beyond an associate degree. Earning a bachelor’s or graduate degree will allow you to pursue professional and managerial roles which offer the best long-term prospects.

The New Hampshire Board of Accountancy oversees all requirements for certification of accountants in the state, laying out each step you must take before becoming a CPA.

You must complete at least 150 semester hours of college education to qualify for licensure; this typically involves earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. When applying to sit for the CPA licensure exam, expect to pay $96 for your educational evaluation, $262.64 for the exam section fee, and $171 for the exam application fee.

You must also possess at least one year of experience: full-time experience requires 1,500 hours, while part-time experience requires 2,080 hours.

New Hampshire offers both two- and three-year licenses. The two-year license requires a minimum of 80 total continuing education credits, four of which must be on ethics. The three-year license requires 120 credits, including four hours in ethics. In summary, requirements ot earn and maintain CPA licensure include: