Log in when and where you want with 24/7 access to coursework.
No surprises here — assignments are always due Thursdays and Sundays.
Have more control over your course load with 6 terms per year.
I felt outstanding when I got the promotion after graduating because I was like, oh, it paid off! It paid off.
Graduating was this incredible experience, and getting hired the same month was just like are you serious? Can life be this good?
SNHU gave me all the building blocks I needed to successfully run my own business.
Right now there are more than 150,000 students enrolled in online programs at SNHU, and each student has their own set of goals and reasons for attending. But here are three important ones to keep in mind.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment 2020, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm (viewed Aug. 4, 2021). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
2 Pew Research Center, Social & Demographic Trends, The State of American Jobs, 2016, on the internet, at http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/10/06/3-how-americans-view-their-jobs/ (viewed Aug. 4, 2021).
Yes, it is free to apply to SNHU. As part of our mission to increase access to higher education, we do not charge application fees for U.S. residents.
SNHU is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) institution with a mission — your success. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students who pursue their bachelor's degree at private nonprofit institutions experience much higher graduation rates than their counterparts at for-profit schools. SNHU is a private, fully accredited institution. As a private university, we rely heavily on private donations, contributions and tuition to provide nationally-recognized education for our students. SNHU offers countless resources to ensure student success, including, but not limited to, merit-based scholarship programs, dedicated advisor support and lifetime access to career services for alumni.
When you enroll at SNHU, you’ll have access to career services during your studies and after graduation. Helping you prepare for a rewarding career is something that starts on Day 1 and lasts a lifetime. Your admission counselor, dedicated academic advisor and the SNHU career services team will partner with you to help you reach your next goal — and the ones after that.
Yes, Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, Inc. (NECHE). All programs offered by SNHU are encompassed by this regional accreditation.
In addition to regional accreditation, certain SNHU undergraduate and graduate programs also carry specialized programmatic accreditations.
Programmatic Accreditations:
In addition to regional accreditation, certain SNHU undergraduate and graduate programs also carry specialized programmatic accreditations, including:
No, SNHU does not require standardized test scores like SAT, ACT, GMAT or GRE for admittance. We believe that these tests do not effectively measure a student's subject knowledge or their ability to succeed. Eliminating this requirement also means students are able to pursue a faster, more flexible pathway to their education.
As a nonprofit university, SNHU has some of the lowest online tuition in the nation. For more than 90 years, our mission has been to expand access to higher education to those for whom college was not a guarantee. Here are the numbers.
2022-2023 SNHU Online Tuition RatesEarned associate degree credits may be applied toward earning a bachelor’s degree (some exceptions; talk to your admission counselor).
SNHU Online Graduate Degree TuitionEarned associate degree credits may be applied toward earning a bachelor’s degree (some exceptions; talk to your admission counselor).
SNHU Online Graduate Degree TuitionThese tuition costs are before factoring in transfer credits or financial aid grants (which don’t have to be paid back) or financial aid loans (which do have to be paid back). SNHU offers discounts of up to 30% for U.S. active duty, National Guard and Selected Reserve, and the spouses of those on active duty.
First off, it’s a great idea to think of this as a two-part question: 1) “How do I reduce tuition costs?” and 2) “How do I make college more affordable?”
1. Reduce tuition costs
Choose an affordable university like SNHU
As a nonprofit university, SNHU has some of the lowest online tuition in the nation.
When comparing costs of universities, we recommend looking at the “cost per credit.” To get a sense of your overall cost, simply multiply the cost per credit by the number of credits you need for your degree. Most bachelor’s degrees are 120 credits.
For example, SNHU’s online tuition cost is $320/credit — which is among the lowest tuition rates in the nation.
| $320 | x | 120 | = | $38,400 |
| cost per credit at SNHU | credits needed for bachelor’s degree | Total tuition cost for a bachelor’s degree at SNHU before transfer credits or discounts applied |
But remember, your actual cost may be a lot less. There are lots of ways to reduce that price! Call or text your admission counselor at 888.387.0861.
Choose a university with a generous transfer credit policy like SNHU
Our high level of student support, no set class times and generous transfer credit policy make SNHU a great university for students with previous college credits to finish their degrees. In fact, most online students enroll at SNHU with some transfer credits.
At SNHU you, you can transfer up to
For example, if you transferred 90 credits toward your bachelor’s degree, you could complete your degree in as little as 1 year. Call or text 888.387.0861 your admission counselor for a free credit evaluation to learn how quickly you can complete your degree at SNHU.
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)
The U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid provides more than $120 billion in financial aid to help pay for college or career school each year. It is the nation’s largest provider of loans, grants and work-study funds. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see if you qualify. Don’t forget SNHU's school code — 002580!
The FAFSA should only take about 30 minutes to complete and is 100% free to submit. And since other schools may require a FAFSA for enrollment, it’s a good idea to fill it out, even if you don’t end up attending SNHU.
Completing the FAFSA is the only way to determine if you’re eligible for federal aid in the form of
*Students who fail to complete the academic period for which the Federal Pell Grant was offered will be asked to pay back a portion of the grant.
Questions about financial aid or the FAFSA? Call an SNHU finance counselor today at 877.455.7648 for assistance.
Ask about employer tuition assistance
Many employers will assist with the cost of your degree in the form of tuition assistance, tuition discounts or tuition reimbursement. Some might fund it completely depending on how your tuition benefits work! Ask your employer if this benefit is available to you.
SNHU also has partnerships with hundreds of employers across the country. Call or text an admission counselor at 888.387.0861 to find out if your employer is an SNHU partner.
2. Make college payments affordable.
Consider student loans
After you've taken all the steps you can to reduce the cost of your tuition, it still may not be possible for you to pay out of pocket for your remaining costs. If that’s the case, student loans can help you fund your education.
If you’re thinking about taking out one or more federal or private student loans, talk to our financial services team about smart borrowing practices and get all the information you need to fund your educational future. Keep in mind that you don't need to take out loans for the full amount you're approved for. It's important to borrow responsibly because you'll be responsible for paying back any student loans you take.
Talk to an SNHU finance counselor today at 877.455.7648 to learn more.
Take fewer classes per term
Many SNHU students make college more affordable and achievable by taking only one class per term. This allows students to pay for tuition using savings rather than taking out loans while also setting a manageable pace for studying while working full time. Yes, it takes longer to graduate, but thousands of our SNHU students have earned their degrees this way!
Note: Attending SNHU part time may affect your eligibility for financial aid. Call or text your admission counselor at 888.387.0861 to discuss your particular situation.
*Students who fail to complete the academic period for which the Federal Pell Grant was offered will be asked to pay back a portion of the grant.
Personal preferences, goals, academic progress, transfer credit eligibility, cost and time considerations are all factors that may affect how many years it takes to earn a degree. Here’s the breakdown:
Associate degree — usually 2 years
An associate degree usually requires 60 credits and is often referred to as a 2-year degree. But there are ways to finish an associate degree faster! At SNHU, you can transfer up to 45 previously earned college credits toward an associate degree, helping you get that credential even quicker.
Associate degrees can often be applied when going on to earn your bachelor’s degree. Depending on which associate degree you earn, you could be halfway to your bachelor’s degree!
Bachelor’s degree — usually 4 years
Many factors will affect how long it takes to earn your degree, but 4 years is the traditional timetable to earn the 120 credits you need. At SNHU, students pursuing their bachelor's degree online typically take 1-2 courses per term. With six 8-week terms throughout the year, you can complete as many as 12 courses annually.
If you’ve earned college credits at other universities, you may be eligible to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor’s degree at SNHU, saving you time and money. Many of our students enroll at SNHU with transfer credits.
Master’s degrees — usually 1-2 years
How long it takes to get a master’s degree depends on you and the program you choose. Typically, it takes 1-2 years to complete. In some cases, you can finish in less time, and in others, you may want more time to progress through your courses or may need longer to meet specific program requirements. Your degree, college, desired pacing and personal goals are all factors to consider.
One of the biggest variables when it comes to the length of a master’s degree is the number of credits. While bachelor’s degrees are typically 120 credits, making them 4-year degrees, master’s programs can vary greatly, ranging from 30-60 credits. For example, our MBA is 30 credits while our MFA in Creative Writing is 48 credits.
Want to learn more? Call or text your admission counselor at 888.387.0861.
Two online classes per term is considered full time at SNHU. If you want to earn your degree faster, you can maximize the number of courses you take each term. You may be surprised by how manageable two courses can be!
And with 6 undergraduate and 5 graduate term starts per year, you have the opportunity to assess and change your course load every 8-10 weeks.
Undergraduate programs include bachelor’s and associate degrees and undergraduate certificates. After earning a bachelor’s degree, students can continue on to earn a graduate degree.
Graduate programs most often refer to master's and doctoral degrees and certificates — educational credentials that can be pursued after a student has earned a bachelor’s (undergraduate) degree.
In short, once you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree, you’re eligible to apply to graduate programs.
Our high level of student support, no set class times and generous transfer credit policy make SNHU a great university for students with previous college credits to finish their degrees. In fact, most online students enroll at SNHU with some transfer credits.
At SNHU you, you can transfer up to
For example, if you transferred 90 credits toward your bachelor’s degree, you could complete your degree in as little as 1 year. Call or text 888.387.0861 your admission counselor to start your free credit evaluation and find out just how quickly you can complete your degree at SNHU.
As a fully accredited institution, SNHU's credits are generally accepted by all colleges and universities. Check your degree program’s transfer policy to see how many SNHU online course credits are transferable.
1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Unemployment rates and earnings by educational attainment 2021, on the Internet, at https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm (viewed Aug. 10, 2022). Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.
