Address: 105 Main Street, 03824 Durham, New Hampshire, United States
Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology, Environmental Sciences, Space Science
The University of New Hampshire began in 1866 as the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts, a land-grant institution created under the Morrill Act of 1862. It was first based in Hanover, where it was associated with Dartmouth College, and it moved to Durham in 1893. The name University of New Hampshire dates from 1923.
Today it is a public research university classified as R1, the highest Carnegie research category, and it holds sea-grant and space-grant status alongside its land-grant mission. Durham is the main campus, and the university also operates UNH at Manchester, a second campus.
UNH is the flagship of the University System of New Hampshire, which also includes Plymouth State and Keene State. UNH enrolls more than 14,000 students. Its land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant designations reflect a mission that spans agriculture, marine research and space science.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Ecology and Sustainability, Engineering, Life Sciences, Marine Science, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Flagship land-grant university in New Hampshire. Strong research in oceanography, space science (Space Science Center), and environmental sustainability. Operates Jackson Estuarine Laboratory.
Research:
A research university with strengths in marine and environmental sciences, space physics, climate studies, and sustainable agriculture.
Famous Alumnis:
John Irving, Jennifer Lee, Octavia Spencer (attended briefly), Marcy Kaptur
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
3000
Current students***:
15000
Foreign students***:
2%
Cumulative former students***:
120000
Pros
Strong programs in marine and environmental sciences, beautiful coastal New Hampshire location, research opportunities in space and ocean science.
Cons
Located in a smaller college town (Durham), some programs less nationally prominent, colder climate.
Best For
Students interested in marine biology, environmental science, or space science, often valuing a land-grant university with strong research in these areas and a New England setting.
Oceanography, pharmacy and engineering are the main fields of University of Rhode Island, a public university in Kingston, Rhode Island.
University of Connecticut is a public university in Storrs, Connecticut, with business, education and engineering as its specialties.
In Amherst, Massachusetts, the public University of Massachusetts Amherst is strong in computer science, linguistics and engineering.
Forestry, oceanography and agricultural sciences are the focus of Oregon State University, a public school in Corvallis, Oregon.
Chemical engineering and physical therapy are among the specialties at the public University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Canada's public University of Victoria stands out for ocean and climate sciences, close to UNH's marine strengths.
Ocean studies and health professions are the specialties of Dalhousie University, a public institution in Canada.
In Germany, the public Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel focuses on marine sciences and nanoscience.
Norway's public University of Bergen combines marine science with climate research.
The United Kingdom's public University of Southampton teaches engineering and ocean and earth sciences.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When was UNH founded, and where?
It was established in 1866 in Hanover, New Hampshire, as an agricultural and mechanical land-grant college linked to Dartmouth College. The institution moved to Durham in 1893, where it has remained.
What do the land-grant, sea-grant and space-grant labels mean?
Land-grant status comes from the 1862 Morrill Act, which funded colleges of agriculture and the mechanic arts. UNH later gained sea-grant and space-grant designations, which support coastal and marine research and space science programmes.
Does UNH have more than one campus?
Durham is the main campus, and UNH at Manchester is a second campus.
How big is the university?
More than 14,000 students are enrolled.
What is its research standing?
UNH is classified R1, meaning very high research activity in the Carnegie system.
Where can applicants find costs and admission rules?
The official admissions and financial aid pages hold the current figures.
Aquaculture, Climate Change, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Impact, Marine Ecosystems, Marine Life Impact, Space Exploration, Sustainable Development
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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