Head-to-head comparison
Southern New Hampshire University vs Saint Anselm 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 Manchester, NH
Saint Anselm College
- Net price / year
- $34,779
- Earnings, 10 years
- $73,371
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Saint Anselm College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $139,116 in 5.6 years versus 75 years at Southern New Hampshire University, on median earnings of $73,371 vs $50,318 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Southern New Hampshire University | Saint Anselm College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $36,708 | $34,779 |
| Total net cost | $146,832 | $139,116 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,318 | $73,371 |
| Median debt | $21,082 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 75 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$107,672 | $361,104 |
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 Saint Anselm College?
Saint Anselm College, at $34,779 a year after aid versus $36,708 — a gap of $1,929 a year, or $7,716 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 Saint Anselm College graduates earn more?
Saint Anselm College graduates report a median $73,371 ten years after entry, $23,053 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 Saint Anselm College?
Southern New Hampshire University: its completers carry a median $21,082 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Saint Anselm College, a difference of $5,918. 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?
80% of students finish at Saint Anselm 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.