Head-to-head comparison
Southern New Hampshire University vs Plymouth State University: 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 Plymouth, NH
Plymouth State University
- Net price / year
- $19,216
- Earnings, 10 years
- $57,304
- Payback
- 8.6 yrs
Plymouth State University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $76,864 in 8.6 years versus 75 years at Southern New Hampshire University, on median earnings of $57,304 vs $50,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern New Hampshire University | Plymouth State University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,708 | $19,216 |
| Total net cost | $146,832 | $76,864 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,318 | $57,304 |
| Median debt | $21,082 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 8.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$107,672 | $102,016 |
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 Plymouth State University?
Plymouth State University, at $19,216 a year after aid versus $36,708 — a gap of $17,492 a year, or $69,968 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 Plymouth State University graduates earn more?
Plymouth State University graduates report a median $57,304 ten years after entry, $6,986 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 Plymouth State University?
Southern New Hampshire University: its completers carry a median $21,082 in federal loans versus $26,000 at Plymouth State University, a difference of $4,918. 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?
52% of students finish at Plymouth State University, 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.