About SNHU

Expanding the Boundaries of Higher Education

Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 3,000 on campus students and over 200,000 online students.

Since our founding in 1932, SNHU has transformed from a school of accounting and secretarial science into an institution offering over 200 programs, from certificates to doctoral level degrees. Whether you’re looking to study business, education, liberal arts, social sciences or STEM, SNHU continues to reinvent higher education to fit the needs of today's students and workforce — ensuring students are keeping pace with new technologies and professional skills.

We provide unparalleled support and service to help students achieve their dreams and transform their lives and the lives of those around them. We are proud to offer you an exceptional student experience with nationally recognized academic programs.

In recent years, we have earned significant recognition for our dedication to innovation, inclusivity and support for diverse student communities. These designations include: 

• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• Named a "Great College to Work For" every year since the inception of the distinction in 2008
• Among U.S. News & World Report’s “Most Innovative Universities in the North,” nine times, and as recently as 2025
• Named a "Best Employer for Women" by Forbes, 2022-2025
• Ranked 2022-2023 Top 10 Military Friendly^® School and consecutively maintained Gold Status from 2023–2025
• Military Times Best for Vets: Colleges for 2023-2025
• One of Fast Company's 50 Most Innovative Companies (2012)  

Whether you're international, in the military or looking for a traditional college experience, SNHU is proud to provide affordable, accessible education that students can pursue on our 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH or over our innovative online platform.

University Mission

SNHU transforms lives by expanding access to education through meaningful, high-quality learning experiences relevant to today’s workforce. We drive equitable outcomes by providing learner-centric pathways designed to meet the individual needs of our students, enabling them to reach their goals.

Progress with Purpose

Our mission has always driven us to focus on the future. We're committed to pioneering pathways to education that don’t yet exist—so we can help solve problems that do. From reinventing college for working adults in 1932, to putting learning online in 1995, to creating groundbreaking, competency-based education programs in 2013, our history is a story of innovation.

Today, we continue to be recognized as an agent of change in higher education—developing custom workforce learning solutions, community-based learning for the next generation of learners and by exploring radical new ways to make high-quality education more affordable, accessible and achievable. For all learners, in the classroom and across the globe.

• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth
• Opened the School of Engineering, Technology and Aeronautics (Paul J. LeBlanc Hall) to expand access to affordable and accessible engineering degree programs
• Ranked #51 for Best Colleges for Business in America according to Niche
• Ranked #81 for Safest College Campuses in America and #1 for Safest College Campuses in New Hampshire according to Niche
• In Fall 2024, The Chandler Center here on campus served 5,714 hours, and completed 39 volunteer projects, which included 373 SNHU student volunteers.

It's all done in with the goal of serving and supporting learners. So we can help prepare them to create lasting, positive impact on an ever-changing world.