Southern New Hampshire University vs Plymouth State University
Both universities offer accessible admission with acceptance rates above 96%, making either school attainable for most applicants.
Cost and Value
Plymouth State provides better financial value, particularly for in-state students paying $14,558 versus SNHU's flat $16,450 rate. However, Plymouth's out-of-state tuition jumps to $25,498. The average net price tells a different story: Plymouth students pay $19,685 compared to SNHU's $33,742, representing significant savings of nearly $14,000 annually.
Academic Environment
Plymouth offers a more intimate academic setting with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio compared to SNHU's 24:1 ratio. With only 3,298 students versus SNHU's massive 156,755 enrollment, Plymouth provides smaller classes and more personalized attention. SNHU's size reflects its strong online program presence.
Campus Experience and Outcomes
Plymouth demonstrates stronger student engagement with a 71.30% retention rate versus SNHU's 59.89%. Graduation rates favor Plymouth slightly at 47.40% compared to 44.90%. However, career outcomes show mixed results: Plymouth graduates earn $57,304 median income after ten years compared to SNHU's $50,318, but carry higher debt loads ($26,000 vs $21,082).
Athletics and Location
Plymouth competes in NCAA Division III while SNHU participates in Division II. Both schools are located in New Hampshire, with Plymouth in a smaller mountain town and SNHU in the larger city of Manchester.
Plymouth State suits students seeking traditional campus experiences with personal attention, while Southern New Hampshire University better serves those preferring flexible learning options and lower debt burdens.
Both universities offer accessible admission with acceptance rates above 96%, making either school attainable for most applicants.
Cost and Value
Plymouth State provides better financial value, particularly for in-state students paying $14,558 versus SNHU's flat $16,450 rate. However, Plymouth's out-of-state tuition jumps to $25,498. The average net price tells a different story: Plymouth students pay $19,685 compared to SNHU's $33,742, representing significant savings of nearly $14,000 annually.
Academic Environment
Plymouth offers a more intimate academic setting with a 15:1 student-faculty ratio compared to SNHU's 24:1 ratio. With only 3,298 students versus SNHU's massive 156,755 enrollment, Plymouth provides smaller classes and more personalized attention. SNHU's size reflects its strong online program presence.
Campus Experience and Outcomes
Plymouth demonstrates stronger student engagement with a 71.30% retention rate versus SNHU's 59.89%. Graduation rates favor Plymouth slightly at 47.40% compared to 44.90%. However, career outcomes show mixed results: Plymouth graduates earn $57,304 median income after ten years compared to SNHU's $50,318, but carry higher debt loads ($26,000 vs $21,082).
Athletics and Location
Plymouth competes in NCAA Division III while SNHU participates in Division II. Both schools are located in New Hampshire, with Plymouth in a smaller mountain town and SNHU in the larger city of Manchester.
Plymouth State suits students seeking traditional campus experiences with personal attention, while Southern New Hampshire University better serves those preferring flexible learning options and lower debt burdens.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Southern New Hampshire University | Plymouth State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Rate | 96.4% | 97.6% |
| Enrollment | 156,755 | 3,298 |
| In-State Tuition | $16,450 | $14,558 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $16,450 | $25,498 |
| Net Price | $33,742 | $19,685 |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 44.9% | 47.4% |
| Retention Rate | 59.9% | 71.3% |
| Median Earnings (10yr) | $50,318 | $57,304 |
| Median Debt | $21,082 | $26,000 |
Top Programs by Earnings
Top 5 bachelor's programs at each school, ranked by median graduate earnings.
| Southern New Hampshire University | Plymouth State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Program | Earnings | Program | Earnings |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $73,898 | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | $67,324 |
| Economics. | $60,320 | Computer Science. | $57,995 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $56,867 | Computer and Information Sciences, General. | $53,358 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | $50,856 | Accounting and Related Services. | $51,273 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | $50,151 | Marketing. | $47,729 |