New Hampshire Promise may cover standard tuition at participating public campuses, but its start date is fall 2027. It is not retroactive aid or a scholarship available to any student already in their second or third year. The USNH program guide lists UNH Durham, UNH Manchester, UNH College of Professional Studies Online, Keene State and Plymouth State. Granite Guarantee, the earlier route for eligible students, continues for current recipients: the system says they keep their existing terms through their undergraduate careers.
New applicants are expected to meet a family-income limit of up to $100,000 with typical assets, New Hampshire residency, FAFSA-based demonstrated need, admission to a participating campus and full-time enrollment toward a first bachelor’s degree. First-year students need a cumulative high-school GPA of at least 2.7. Eligible transfers must arrive with an associate degree from the Community College System of New Hampshire. State residency or some community-college attendance alone is not enough; the campus must verify residency documents and transfer credentials.
There is no separate Promise application. Students apply for admission, file FAFSA and review the aid offer when it is issued. Eligibility is reviewed annually based on FAFSA, academic progress and full-time enrollment. If family income exceeds the limit, the page says other scholarships and merit aid may still be available. The program covers standard tuition using federal, state and institutional grants; it does not promise to pay fees, books, housing, meals or January and summer sessions. Calculate the full cost before accepting.
Public comments after the announcement reveal two reasonable questions: whether “incoming first-year” means only the first year is paid, and how someone with a full-time job can attend full-time. The official FAQ describes an annual eligibility review, so “first-year” identifies who may enter the program rather than limiting the award to one year. The full-time rule does remain. Current Granite Guarantee students do not need to switch and keep their existing eligibility, USNH says.
For a fall 2027 start, save residency records, prepare FAFSA and request a written estimate separating tuition, fees, housing, meals and renewable aid. UNH Durham Student Financial Services is at Stoke Hall, 11 Garrison Avenue, Durham; call 603-862-3600 or email financial.aid@unh.edu. Other campuses have their own offices. Confirm the typical-assets test and FAFSA calendar when the final offer is published.
Compare the options and confirm eligibility and deadlines directly with the program before applying.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
New Hampshire Promise — University System of New Hampshire
11 Garrison Avenue, Durham, NH 03824
New Hampshire Promise is a future University System of New Hampshire program: it begins in fall 2027 and does not apply to earlier enrollment periods. Its goal is to close the standard-tuition gap through federal, state and institutional grants for eligible residents. Participating campuses are UNH
Starting fall 2027, may cover standard tuition through federal, state and institutional grants for eligible residents with family income up to $100,000, full-time new students and transfers with a CCSNH associate degree
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of New Hampshire Promise — University System of New Hampshire ↗
Primary source
University System of New Hampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of New Hampshire Promise — University System of New Hampshire ↗
Primary source
University of New Hampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of New Hampshire Promise — University System of New Hampshire ↗
Primary source
University of New Hampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
University System of New Hampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
University of New Hampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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New Hampshire Promise launch: public questions about full-time and four-year coverage ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/newhampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Comentarios del 1 de octubre de 2026 expresan apoyo, preguntan si first-year significa solo un año y señalan el límite full-time; FAQ oficial responde que el award tiene revisión anual y los criterios deben mantenerse.
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USNH launches New Hampshire Promise: student and resident reactions ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/newhampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Conversación pública de octubre de 2026 refleja expectativa y preguntas por activos típicos, tiempo completo y alcance institucional; no se usa como fuente de elegibilidad.
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Public reaction to the New Hampshire Promise announcement ↗
Secondary source
Reddit, r/newhampshire · Accessed October 12, 2026
Los lectores preguntan si first-year restringe ayuda al primer curso y cómo afecta la carga full-time; se contrastan con la FAQ oficial, no se presentan como norma.