University of New Hampshire

College review by Beth Cassie

I recently visited University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. This mid-sized, primarily undergraduate (12,800 UG) public university is a real gem, located less than 45 minutes from the North Shore area of Massachusetts and one hour from Boston. The university looks and feels like a private college, complete with beautiful brick buildings and open green lawns.  55% of students are from NH, with a large number from neighboring MA, and the rest primarily from CT, ME, NY, RI, VT and NJ.

The most popular majors include Business Administration, Psychology, English, Communications, Mechanical Engineering, and Biomedical Science. There is a wide array of majors – everything from Athletic Training to Zoology. Liberal Arts, Engineering, Education, Nursing and Business are all available. Average combined SAT score is 1640 (or mid-500s on each section). Average ACT is 24.

Despite it being summer, leaving the campus relatively empty, I came across people who went out of their way to share how much they love UNH.  The school feels more intimate than its size would imply and there is a friendly vibe about the place. I stepped into one of the dorms that was having some tiling renovations done and was surprised by how generous the double room was.  Overall, the facilities seemed very well maintained.

Hockey is king and attending games on campus is a big part of the social scene. The hockey stadium is located at the far end of the campus (an Amtrak station with service to Boston is right there, too) and the town of Durham flanks the other end of campus. The town is cute with coffee shops, restaurants, stores and a few bars. Fraternities and sororities are present, with about 10% of students participating. The university runs a free shuttle to nearby Portsmouth for students who want to get off campus. Hiking, biking, sailing, and camping are all easily accessible.

For a student who loves the outdoors and wants a wide array of academic offerings, UNH may be just the place.

University of New Hampshire

105 Main Street

Durham, NH 03824

Main: (603) 862-1234

www.unh.edu