As Americans grow increasingly skeptical about the value of a traditional four-year college education, New Hampshire’s community college system is drawing national attention for delivering results.
A new WalletHub analysis released Tuesday ranks the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH) as the best in New England and ninth best in the nation — a recognition that comes just one day after Gov. Kelly Ayotte announced a partnership between Nashua Community College and the U.S. Department of Transportation to train the next generation of air traffic controllers.
“This ranking is a testament to the incredible work being done every day by our students, faculty, and staff, and to New Hampshire’s commitment to building a stronger future for our people and our economy,” Ayotte said. “We’ve worked hard to ensure our community colleges are affordable, innovative, and connected to the needs of our employers. New Hampshire is showing the nation what’s possible when you put students first and focus on results.”
The WalletHub report evaluated state community college systems on cost, student-faculty ratios, graduation rates, and post-graduation earnings, among other factors.
“CCSNH benefits from a clear mission to serve students by providing high-quality educational programs that align with opportunities and needs that are important to New Hampshire’s future,” said CCSNH Chancellor Dr. Mark Rubinstein. “We do that with exceptional educators who are dedicated to their disciplines and to our students’ success, with employer partners in every region of the Granite State who contribute to our planning, and with consistent and strategic investments by the state of New Hampshire that allow us to meet the varied needs of our students.”
Asked if he was surprised to hear his system was top in the region, Rubinstein said he doesn’t dwell on rankings but instead focuses on outcomes. And by that measure, New Hampshire is performing.
“For six years in a row, New Hampshire has been the state with the highest percentage of nursing students who pass the NCLEX on the first try,” he said. “That reflects well on our nurse educators. That’s just one illustration of the fact that, in our system, we have faculty across the disciplines who understand the needs of our students, their goals, as well as the needs of industry.”
New England is known as the academic center of the United States, with more than 200 four-year colleges and universities in the six states, according to the New England Commission of Higher Education. Typically, those states dominate rankings of education data. But New Hampshire is the only New England state in the top 10, and one of just three states, along with Connecticut and Massachusetts, in the top 20.
Part of the reason, some education experts speculate, is culture. There is a negative view of trade school and community college in a region where a disproportionate number of residents have four-year college degrees or even post-graduate education.
Asked about the issue of degree snobbery, Rubinstein acknowledged the sentiment exists, but he added an interesting data point: “New Hampshire is typically in the top ten among states whose residents hold a bachelor’s degree. But if you just consider those born in New Hampshire, they are less likely to have a four-year degree than the people who’ve moved here from somewhere else.”
Meanwhile, polls show faith in the value of a bachelor’s degree is slipping among Americans.
When asked about the cost of college these days, a 2024 Pew Research survey found many Americans question whether it’s worth it if a student has to take on debt. Nearly half of adults (47 percent) said a four-year college degree is worth the cost, but only if someone doesn’t have to take out loans in order to attend.
Only 22 percent said college is worth the cost, even if someone has to take out loans. And 29 percent say college isn’t worth the cost — period.
Against that backdrop, New Hampshire’s community college system is expanding programs in high-demand fields, from nursing to aviation. The new air traffic controller training program at Nashua Community College, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, is the first of its kind in the state and one of just a handful nationwide.
Ayotte said the initiative will not only address a critical workforce shortage but also demonstrate the agility and relevance of the state’s two-year institutions.
“This is about giving our students the skills to succeed and giving our employers the talent they need,” Ayotte said. “It’s a win for New Hampshire’s economy and for the people we serve.”
“New Hampshire’s community colleges have earned recognition as the best in New England — and among the top in the nation — because of their unwavering focus on quality, accessibility, and alignment with the state’s workforce needs,” added Mica Stark, President & CEO, New Hampshire College and University Council.
“Community colleges in New Hampshire are built to be flexible to meet immediate needs. Innovative programs, like Nashua Community College’s new Air Traffic Controller training launched in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, show how the system meets students where they are — offering affordable, high-quality pathways that lead directly to high-demand careers or seamless transfer to our four-year colleges and universities.”
