Head-to-head comparison
Southern New Hampshire University vs Keene State College: which has better ROI?
Option A Manchester, NH
Southern New Hampshire University
- Net price / year
- $36,708
- Earnings, 10 years
- $50,318
- Payback
- 75 yrs
Option B Keene, NH
Keene State College
- Net price / year
- $17,887
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,368
- Payback
- 11.9 yrs
Keene State College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $71,548 in 11.9 years versus 75 years at Southern New Hampshire University, on median earnings of $54,368 vs $50,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern New Hampshire University | Keene State College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,708 | $17,887 |
| Total net cost | $146,832 | $71,548 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,318 | $54,368 |
| Median debt | $21,082 | $25,749 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 11.9 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$107,672 | $48,612 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Southern New Hampshire University or Keene State College?
Keene State College, at $17,887 a year after aid versus $36,708 — a gap of $18,821 a year, or $75,284 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Southern New Hampshire University or Keene State College graduates earn more?
Keene State College graduates report a median $54,368 ten years after entry, $4,050 more than the $50,318 at Southern New Hampshire University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Southern New Hampshire University or Keene State College?
Southern New Hampshire University: its completers carry a median $21,082 in federal loans versus $25,749 at Keene State College, a difference of $4,667. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
60% of students finish at Keene State College, against 43% at Southern New Hampshire University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.