Higher Education in New Hampshire
Driving Economic and Workforce Growth throughout New Hampshire
March 2025
PARKER STRATEGY GROUP
A Note From the President and CEO
Dear Community Members and Stakeholders,
The New Hampshire College & University Council (NHCUC) is proud to support a statewide network of 19 diverse nonprofit higher education institutions and thousands of professionals who are dedicated to the promise and impact of education. Together, we work to enhance the value of higher education for students, communities, and the state.
These institutions — nonprofit public, private, two-year, and four-year colleges and universities — are highly regarded for their teaching, research, and community engagement. They serve as vital centers for communities of all sizes, driving economic development and improving quality of life in their communities and across New Hampshire.
As NHCUC’s latest economic development report demonstrates, New Hampshire’s higher education system is a cornerstone of the state’s economy, contributing $7.6 billion and supporting almost 52,000 jobs. While our state economy is strong, it does have specific needs in order to grow and prosper — namely, a talented, welltrained and well-educated workforce. NHCUC members recognize this imperative and are focused on attracting, equipping, and retaining talent. Our institutions also enrich the cultural and social fabric of our state, advancing research, fostering innovation, and supporting initiatives that address real-world challenges.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in advancing higher education. We should all be proud of our higher education institutions in this great state.
With gratitude,
Mica Stark President & CEO NHCUC
Overview of Higher Education in New
Combined Economic Impact of Higher Education Spending in New Hampshire
Impact of Higher Education Operational Spending
Community Anchors and Leading Employers
Student Spending Creates Additional Impact
Visitors to College and Universities Create Im pact
Graduates from NH Colleges and Universities Fuel the Workforce Pipeline
Federal Research Dollars Transform Lives and the State’s Economy NHCUC
Annual Economic Impact Generated
New Hampshire Nonprofit Public and Private Higher Education By The Numbers
$17.1 B
in total economic impact annually
Annual Jobs Supported and Sustained
in combined impact generated by operational and capital spending
in combined impact generated by visitor spending
114,262 $636.1 M
total jobs supported and sustained from operations and capital spending
24,495 direct jobs in nonprofit higher education
total jobs supported and sustained from visitor spending
Local and State Taxes Generated
in combined tax impacts generated by operational and capital spending
$5.7 B 39,132 $251.9 M $234.5 M 1,415 $18.5 M 11,403 $119 M $9.5 B 62,312
in combined impact generated by visitor spending $1.7 B in combined impact generated student spending
total jobs supported and sustained from student spending in combined impact generated student spending in alumni impact generated annually in New Hampshire by graduates living and working in the state
$246.7 M in alumni impact generate annually in New Hampshire by graduates living and working in the state jobs in New Hampshire supported and sustained in total local and state tax impact
total jobs supported and sustained, including alumni living and working in New Hampshire
Introduction
New Hampshire’s past, present, and future are deeply intertwined with its many colleges and universities, each playing an integral role in shaping the Granite State’s legacy. The state is enriched by a diverse array of postsecondary institutions, ranging from small liberal arts colleges to larger campuses with thousands of students. Four-year colleges in New Hampshire play a vital role in the higher education ecosystem by offering diverse academic programs, fostering innovation, and preparing students for leadership and professional careers. The state’s community college system plays a vital role, linking students to real workforce opportunities and providing an affordable pathway to higher education. In addition, higher education is a cornerstone of New Hampshire’s ecosystem, fostering economic growth, enhancing workforce readiness, and enriching community life through education, research, and cultural contributions.
With 22 degree-granting public and private colleges and universities serving the state, there is robust availability of degree and major choices for Granite Staters and out of state students looking to reach their higher education goals. As New Hampshire’s workforce needs change and grow, the state’s two-year and four-year colleges and universities are continuously innovating their curriculum and strategies to meet the needs of the students and the
state. The annual impact of these institutions is significant from an economic perspective creating $7.6 billion in impact as a result of operations alone. Colleges and universities are leading employers throughout the state and in the communities they serve –nearly 25,000 employees on a direct basis work in the nonprofit higher education sector. These colleges and universities are integral parts of their communities and work hand-in-hand to strengthen civic and economic engagement. The goal of this report is to demonstrate the economic and social impact of New Hampshire’s nonprofit higher education sector on the state from an economic, workforce, and social perspective.
Overview of Higher Education in New Hampshire
22 12 10
Number of Nonprofit Degree-Granting Institutions
Number of Private Institutions
Pell-Eligible
Number of Public Institutions
students receive an average of $3,374¹
58,917 96,478
Undergraduate Students age 25 and older
320,636 254,60866,028
Number of Students (including online) Online NH based students
33,637 76%
Number of Graduates in 2022 (including online students)
of full-time first-time undergraduates awarded federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid
31,277
Number of Graduates in 2021 (including online students)
Source: IPEDS, 2021, 2022, and 2023 ¹https://educationdata.org/pell-grant-statistics
About NHCUC
The New Hampshire College & University Council (NHCUC) is a member-centered consortium supporting a statewide network of highereducation institutions and thousands of professionals across New Hampshire. NHCUC’s membership comprises diverse and unique institutions from across New Hampshire, including public, private, two-year, and four-year colleges and universities. These institutions are highly regarded for their outstanding teaching, research, and community service activities. They serve as major centers of activity that are vital to the economic development of their communities and the state.
Founded in 1966, NHCUC is dedicated to the promise of post-secondary education and works to enhance the value of education for students, communities, and the state. By working together, their members promote best practices through information sharing
and joint programming. Their collaborative initiatives leverage institutional and government resources to extend the reach and value of education in New Hampshire. They also allow members to expand their capabilities by taking advantage of professional development and tapping into operating efficiencies. The NHCUC works to expand access to higher education and improve student success. They aim to attract and retain talented students to study and work in New Hampshire. In addition to collaborating across member higher education institutions, NHCUC partners with secondary schools, employers, and state and national agencies to make college a reality for students from all walks of life. As the modern workforce continues to demand higher levels of education, these collaborative efforts are more important than ever.
”Higher education is the cornerstone of New Hampshire’s prosperity, fostering innovation, empowering communities, and preparing future leaders to thrive in an ever-changing world.”
NHCUC Member Institutions
NHCUC member colleges and universities collaborate to make higher education in New Hampshire accessible. They also work to expand higher education’s impact in ways that benefit students and the state.
NHCUC members form a unique coalition working to advance higher education in New Hampshire.
Mica Stark President, NHCUC
Methodology
About the Study
The NHCUC engaged Parker Strategy Group to measure the economic contribution of the universities. The goal of this analysis is to tell the story of nonprofit higher education from a numbers and narrative perspective. To develop this report, Parker Strategy Group gathered student, financial, and employment data about public and private nonprofit higher education in New Hampshire, met with key staff, reviewed primary data and information to inform the writing and key messages in this report.
The primary tool used in the performance of this study is the Input-Output model and data set developed by IMPLAN Group LLC. Financial data used in this study were obtained from the Integrated Post-Secondary and included the following data points: operational expenditures, capital expenditures, and payroll and benefits for employees for FY23. Secondary data were used to estimate spending by visitors (day and overnight) and students (undergraduate and graduate) exclusive of tuition and fees. Additional information on the methodology and assumptions used to complete this study can be found in Appendix B.
The impact presented in this analysis is broken down into three categories: direct impact, indirect impact, and induced impact. The indirect and induced impacts are commonly referred to as the “multiplier effect.” The following graphic below provides an overview of the types of impact detailed in this report.
Direct
Investment in construction and expenditures for operations
Data Sources: IPEDS
Study Type: Economic Contribution Analysis
Geography: New Hampshire
Institutions: All public and private nonprofit degree granting institutions
Study Year: Fiscal Year 2023
Methodology:
Indirect
Purchases from local suppliers
Induced
Household spending from earnings of direct and indirect expenditures
Combined Economic Impact of Higher Education Spending in New Hampshire
NHCUC members serve as powerful economic drivers across New Hampshire. Nonprofit higher education institutions generate a substantial economic impact through operations spending, student spending, and visitor spending annually. These institutions invest in wages, capital projects, and daily operations, creating a ripple effect that strengthens local businesses, supports jobs, and fuels statewide economic growth Their ongoing investment in New Hampshire’s communities plays a vital role in sustaining and expanding the state’s economy.
The combined economic impact of operational and capital spending, student spending, and visitor spending in 2023 contributed an economic impact of $7.6 billion. New Hampshire’s public and private
colleges and universities generated $4.9 billion in direct economic impact, $1.1 billion in indirect economic impact, and $1.6 billion in induced economic impact.
New Hampshire’s nonprofit public and private colleges and universities supported and sustained a total of 51,950 jobs: 38,589 direct jobs, 4,896 indirect jobs, and 8,465 induced jobs
Fiscal impacts at the local and state level generated by New Hampshire’s nonprofit public and private colleges and universities totaled $389.5 million These institutions directly generate $266 9 million in local and state taxes, $36 million in indirect taxes, and $86.5 million in induced taxes.
Impact of Higher Education Operational Spending
Nonprofit higher education contributes to the local and state economy through expenditures on operations, capital projects, and wages. The direct, day-to-day expenditures cause a significant ripple effect throughout the statewide economy. The investment of New Hampshire’s 22 nonprofit higher education institutions to maintain their operations in New Hampshire make a significant impact on the statewide economy.
Operations and capital spending in 2023 contributed a total of $5.7 billion. Operations at New Hampshire’s public and private colleges and universities generated $3.7 billion in direct economic impact, $716.4 million in indirect economic impact, and $1.3 billion in induced economic impact.
Operations at New Hampshire’s public and private colleges and universities supported and sustained a total of 39,132 jobs: 29,200 direct jobs, 3,311 indirect jobs, and 6,621 induced jobs.
Fiscal impacts generated by New Hampshire’s public and private colleges and universities at the state and local level from operations total $251.9 million annually. Operations directly generate $160.1 million in local and state taxes, $24.1 million in indirect taxes, and $67.7 million in induced taxes.²
Community Anchors and Leading Employers
Colleges and universities across New Hampshire are integral parts of their communities and have positive impacts upon their workforce, play economic leadership roles throughout the community, purchase goods and services that benefit local supply chains, and some apply university research beyond academia within the community.³ 4 Beyond their economic roles, colleges and universities in New Hampshire embrace their civic and social responsibilities to support
community development, demonstrating that the social, economic, and epistemic impacts of universities are closely intertwined. Universities across New Hampshire have demonstrated their long-term commitment to collaboration and building trust with businesses and community members through faculty and staff participation on boards, creating service-learning opportunities for students, volunteerism, and civic participation.
New Hampshire Colleges and Universities
Anchor New Hampshire as Top Employers
Nearly 25,000 employees throughout the Granite State work in the nonprofit higher education industry segment.
Ten out of 22 degree-granting private and nonprofit colleges and universities are listed as top employers in New Hampshire.
•Southern New HampshireUniversity (Manchester)
•Dartmouth (Hanover)
•Community College System of New Hampshire (Concord)
•Plymouth State University (Plymouth)
•Saint Anselm College (Manchester)
•Franklin Pierce University (Rindge)
•Keene State College (Keene)
•New England College (Henniker)
•NHTI – Concord’s Community College (Concord)
•University of New Hampshire (Durham)
³Pugh, R., E. Hamilton, S. Jack, and A. Gibbons. 2016 “A Step Into the Unknown: Universities and the Governance of Regional Ec onomic Development ” European Planning Studies 24 (7): 1357–73. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
4 McCauley-Smith, C., S. Smith, L. Nantunda, and X Zhu. 2020. “The Role of Anchor Institutions in Creating Value for SMEs: Insig hts from North East of England OwnerManagers ” Studies in Higher Education. Advance Online Publication. doi:10.1080/03075079.2020.1861593 [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®], [Google Scholar]
Student Spending Creates Additional Impact
The energy is palpable when students are on campus in towns and cities across New Hampshire. Along with increased population comes an increased demand for local goods and services catering to the student population, including off-campus housing, utilities, groceries, restaurants, retail establishments, and personal services. It is critical to note that no room and board expenditures paid to the colleges or universities are included in these impacts.
Students at New Hampshire’s public and private colleges and universities contributed a total of $1.7 billion to the state’s economy in 2023 as a result of their spending. The students generated $1.1 billion in direct economic impact, $297.4 million in indirect economic impact, and $313.4 million in induced economic impact.
Students from New Hampshire’s nonprofit colleges and universities supported and sustained a total of 11,403 jobs as a result of their spending on goods and services: 8,397 direct jobs, 1,393 indirect jobs, and 1,613 induced jobs.
State and local fiscal impacts generated as a result of student spending total $119 million annually. The students generated $92.2 million in direct taxes, $10.3 million in indirect taxes, and $16.5 million in induced taxes.
Visitors to College and Universities Create Impact
College campuses across New Hampshire draw in visitors for conferences, meetings, parents’ weekends, sporting events, arts and cultural events, and graduation celebrations. As a result of these visitors, New Hampshire’s colleges and universities are attracting visitors and generating additional impact in the statewide economy. These impacts are felt in multiple sectors of the tourist economy.
In 2023, visitor spending to nonprofit colleges and universities in New Hampshire contributed a total of $234.5 million. Visitors to these colleges and universities generated $148.5 million in direct economic impact, $41.2 million in indirect economic impact, and $44.9 million in induced economic impact.
Visitors to colleges and universities across New Hampshire supported and sustained a total of 1,415 jobs as a result of their spending: 992 direct jobs, 192 indirect jobs, and 231 induced jobs.
State and local fiscal impacts generated as a result of visitor spending total $18.5 million annually. The students generated $14.6 million in direct taxes, $1.5 million in indirect taxes, and $2.4 million in induced taxes.
Southern New Hampshire University is a Magnet for Tourism in the Granite State
With more than 170,000 online students all over the world and 3,000 on campus, the impact of SNHU’s visitors to New Hampshire is never more pronounced than on graduation day. To accommodate their students and to join them in celebrating their graduation, each term, SNHU hosts in-person graduations and virtual ceremonies to celebrate their students success at SNHU Arena in downtown Manchester. In the fall of 2021, SNHU welcomed the return of in-person ceremonies as their graduates from Spring 2020, Fall 2020, and Spring 2021 shared in the commencement experience alongside their Fall 2021 graduates. Over two weekends, 4,700 graduates celebrated their success at six in-person ceremonies, with nearly 14,000 guests cheering them on. In addition, 2,800 Fall 2021 graduates celebrated in a virtual ceremony while at home with family and friends. The impact of bringing 18,700 visitors to New Hampshire for a weekend filling hotels, dining at local restaurants, and making one last stop at the bookstore for SNHU swag makes an
impact on New Hampshire’s economy. According to the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD), the state welcomed 14.3 million visitors, totaling $7.3 billion.5 Colleges and universities in New Hampshire are key drivers of tourism through the wide array of events they host year-round. From homecoming games and commencement ceremonies to cultural festivals, academic conferences, and performing arts shows, these institutions draw visitors from across the state and beyond. Family members, alumni, prospective students, and fans often travel to attend these events, bringing business to local hotels, restaurants, and shops. Seasonal events, such as Fall open houses and winter holiday concerts, capitalize on New Hampshire’s scenic landscapes and appeal to tourists who enjoy pairing their college visits with outdoor activities or exploring nearby historic sites. This influx of visitors supports the local economy and enhances the visibility of New Hampshire’s educational institutions, making them an integral part of the state’s tourism landscape.
”Being at Commencement, seeing your family there — who's been supporting you the whole time and are cheering you on — it's an extremely great moment.”
Cole Gonchar '22, MBA
Graduates from NH Colleges and Universities Fuel the Workforce Pipeline
Students from New Hampshire towns, cities across the United States, and around the world come to New Hampshire colleges and universities to pursue post-secondary education. These students become employees of companies across the state that require an educated workforce.
New Hampshire’s labor force boasts a high concentration of workers in health care, information technology, and manufacturing. Sustaining and growing a well-educated workforce is vital to New Hampshire’s current and future economic vitality. Strong partnerships between New Hampshire’s community colleges, public and private colleges and universities, and businesses throughout the state help ensure training programs and workforce development initiatives are effective. These collaborations fuel a talent pipeline that meets the needs of key industry segments in the state. Connecting companies and talent with businesses and customized
training and internship programs ensures that students have that all important first job after graduation and corporations and nonprofits can maintain their competitive advantage attracting top talent.
Alumni from New Hampshire’s colleges and universities are fueling the talent pipeline in the state. From 2017 to 2021, more than 176,000 degrees and credentials have been awarded by nonprofit higher education institutions in New Hampshire. However, it is important to note that not all of these graduates stay in state because New Hampshire is a net importer of students that attend from out of state to attend college. In addition, the majority of students (nearly 99%) from Southern New Hampshire University are attending virtually and are out-of-state. To calculate the impact of alumni, Parker Strategy Group assumed that 25.5% of public and private college alumni6 are working in state after graduation.
Degrees Granted in New Hampshire (FY17–FY21)
Associate degree
22,619
Master’s degree
45,069
Bachelor’s degree
94,681
Doctor’s degree
1,003
Doctor’s degree research + scholarship professional practice
1,478
THIS TABLE PRESENTS DATA COLLECTED FROM TITLE IV INSTITUTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES. PRIOR TO 2009–10, THE DATA INCLUDE ONLY TITLE IV PRIMARILY POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS.
SOURCE: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS, INTEGRATED POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION DATA SYSTEM (IPEDS), COMPLETIONS COMPONENT FINAL DATA (2001–02 – 2019–20) AND PROVISIONAL DATA (2020–21).
New Hampshire Alumni Five-Year Impact
The economic impact of the more than 39,000 graduates living and working in state is significant. Based on the average salary for each degree type, Parker Strategy Group modeled the economic impact of alumni in New Hampshire for five years of graduates. These graduates represent a total of 62,312 jobs, generate $9.5 billion in economic impact, and create $246.7 million in local and state taxes.
$9.5 B
$246.7 M
62,312
39,210 23,102 in economic impact job s alumni additional jobs supported through the multiplier in local and state taxes
Federal Research Dollars Transform Lives and the State’s Economy
Public and private universities throughout New Hampshire bring in competitive federal research dollars from outside of the state thereby growing the economy and bringing the talent of faculty, staff, and students to the national and global stage. In 2023, public and private colleges and universities in New Hampshire received $167.1 million in federal research dollars from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)7 and the National Science Foundation (NSF).8 These dollars generate an estimated $333.3
million in economic impact, support and sustain 1,532 jobs, and contribute $11.1 million in state and local taxes. These research projects are fueling next-generation discovery and the economic engine of New Hampshire. New Hampshire and its public and private universities are at the forefront of discovery, seeking out ways to improve health, the environment, and transform the future.
University of New Hampshire’s Research Profile on the Rise
By all measures, FY23 was another outstanding year for research, economic engagement, and outreach at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). Research awards continued to rise, expenditures on research and discovery reached record levels, and the university’s work improved lives both in New Hampshire and beyond. As an R1 university, UNH is recognized among the most productive research institutions in the nation. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education reaffirmed UNH’s prestigious R1 designation for highest research activity, underscoring its commitment to highquality research and education. Since first achieving R1 status in 2019, UNH has continued to attract funding from federal and state agencies, private foundations, philanthropists, businesses, and industries. This designation enhances the university’s ability to recruit top undergraduate and graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty, further strengthening its role as a leader in research and innovation.
Researchers at UNH secure funding from federal agencies and other sources to address critical challenges, including mapping uncharted parts of the Arctic to expand the nation’s sovereign
waters, mitigating the impact of PFAS contaminants in drinking water, monitoring and predicting solar storms that disrupt satellite technology, and identifying disease-carrying ticks. New initiatives, such as the recently launched Space Tech Hub and the Biotechnology Innovation Center at UNH Manchester, expand the university’s research expertise into emerging sectors crucial to the state’s economic future. These centers facilitate collaboration between researchers and industry leaders, ensuring that cutting-edge discoveries translate into practical applications that drive economic growth.
In FY24, UNH researchers secured $252 million in competitive external funding, more than doubling the university’s funding levels since 2019. This funding supports more than 1,000 projects that tackle pressing global and regional challenges while advancing knowledge of land, sea, and space. In 2024, the university awarded 79 doctoral degrees, with graduates now contributing to discoveries in academia and industry. As UNH continues its upward trajectory, it remains committed to fostering research that drives innovation.
“UNH stands out for its robust research enterprise and steadfast focus on bringing ideas to impact. The R1 classification highlights the strength and innovation of our research community to funders, students, and the people of New Hampshire.”
Elizabeth S. Chilton President, UNH
Giving Back to the Granite State
Public and private nonprofit colleges and universities across New Hampshire are making an impact on the lives of Granite Staters. Communities throughout the state benefit from donations and services provided by faculty, staff, and students. Based upon assumptions derived from the U.S. Census Bureau and the University of Maryland Do Good Institute9 regarding donation amounts and volunteerism rates by age, income level, and
employment status, it is estimated that staff, faculty, and students give more than $23.8 million annually in charitable donations and volunteer for 4.4 million hours, valued at $130.5 million. In FY23, the combined impact of charitable giving and volunteerism totaled $154.3 million. These benefits were in addition to the $5. billion annual operational economic impact.
$23.8 M
$130.5 M in donations
4.4 M
total giving and volunteerism hours volunteered value of volunteer hours
$154.3 M
Industry and Corporate Partnerships
Lead Students to Careers
Two Roads on to Campus, Endless On-ramps to Success
At Franklin Pierce University, students begin to explore career opportunities as soon as they become a part of the “beautiful institution on a hill.” Through partnerships with local businesses and community organizations, the university offers internships, co-ops, and mentorships that help students identify careers they may wish to pursue. An example of this partnership is the one the university has with grocery distributor C&S Wholesale Grocers, the largest grocery wholesaler in the U.S. with greater than $1B annually, headquartered in Keene, NH.
The C&S Internship Program has allowed Franklin Pierce University students to take their learning outside the walls of the classroom and apply textbook knowledge to the real world. According to Bob Palmer, CEO of C&S and a Franklin Pierce alumnus, the company was having trouble with employee retention and recruitment. Palmer appreciated how Franklin Pierce faculty have their “fingers on the pulse of the business world,” and proposed C&S work with the university on an innovative scholarship internship and co-op program leading to full-time employment.
Franklin Pierce students can engage in career development opportunities starting in their first year. Students are taught interview skills and how to build a resume, while job shadowing and career panels help students consider how they can best prepare to succeed in the business world. As they progress through the program, students can apply for paid internships and co-ops earn college credit for working. They are provided ample networking resources and the flexibility to try multiple roles in the company. Many C&S interns have been offered full-time jobs at the company upon graduation. “I saw the C&S Internship Program as a great way to
get hands-on experience before I graduated,” says Bailey Clapp ’19, MS ’21, who is currently employed at C&S as a financial analyst after starting as an intern in the program. “I’m so proud of the opportunities that Franklin Pierce provided to me. I don’t think I would be where I am today without the C&S Internship Program.”
The symbiotic partnership benefits both Franklin Pierce University and C&S Wholesale Grocers. It is part of Franklin Pierce President Emerita Kim Mooney’s initiative to make the university an economic engine for the community and the state.
Marc Martel, C&S’s vice president of general accounting, shared what makes Franklin Pierce students who intern and work for the Keene-based wholesale grocery supply company so vital to the company’s success. “Every student who has interned or worked for us that is a Franklin Pierce student love New Hampshire,” he says. “They want to stay here. They want to be connected here. That ‘secret sauce’ is invaluable to us an employer.”
While there are only two roads onto the Franklin Pierce University campus, partnerships such as the C&S Internships Program show the pathways to success are unlimited.
NHCUC Member Colleges and Universities Give Back
NHCUC members are dedicated to making a positive impact across New Hampshire. Here are just a few ways they give back to their communities:
Antioch University New England | Keene, NH | Since its founding in 2011 by Antioch University New England, Community Garden Connections (CGC) staff have planted, harvested, and donated more than six tons of food to the local community kitchen. They have engaged more than 1,000 community members, 25 partner agencies, and hundreds of graduate, undergraduate, and high school students. CGC increases the local capacity to grow food and enhances personal and communal well-being among those most impacted by climate change and other social, economic, and ecological injustices.
Colby-Sawyer College | New London, NH | ColbySawyer students are committed to sustainability and giving back when moving out of their dorms. Its ReChargers program allows students to donate unwanted mini-fridges, microwaves, clothing, and kitchenware diverting more than 2,000 pounds of waste from landfills every spring for resale to other students and donations to local thrift stores and charities in Franklin and Concord. This sustainable effort, noted by the Boston Globe, is part of a nationwide program called the Post Landfill Action Network (PLAN). PLAN provides colleges guidelines for reducing student move-out waste, reusing functioning items, and recycling old materials.
Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth, New Hampshire | Great Bay Community College helped the United Way with their “Purses for a Purpose” silent auction at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel, wrapped presents at a church in Portsmouth before Christmas, assisted children with games during “Ghost on the Bankes” at Strawbery Banke Museum in downtown Portsmouth, and worked at Operation Blessing on Lafayette Road helping with anything they needed, including switching seasons for clothes, cleaning windows, and organizing donations from donation boxes.
Lakes
Region Community College | Laconia, New Hampshire | Lakes Region Community College supported Special Olympics NH’s efforts by running into Lake Winnipesaukee’s icy waters for the organization’s annual Winni Dip. LRCC’s team “The Lake Monsters” took first place in the costume contest with their Simpson’s attire. LRCC came in second for their fundraising efforts raising a total of $3,519 and donated an additional $1,000 as a sponsor for the event. The Winni Dip raised $284,600.61 to support the athletes and programs of SONH.
Manchester Community College | Manchester, New Hampshire | As part of the career exploration and decision-making process, MCC Career Services, through its Voluntary Action Program, encourages volunteerism and community service to students, alumni, and community members. The program allows students to learn about the various ways they can contribute to their community and to local business and industry and make a positive impact on society while having fun at the same time. The program seeks to give students the opportunity to experience the rewards of serving the community and begin to develop a stronger sense of personal and social responsibility.
NHTI, Concord’s Community College | Concord, New Hampshire | The NHTI Dental Hygiene program provides comprehensive patient-centered care through their Dental Clinic to NHTI students, faculty, staff, and the public. The clinic educates dental hygiene students to become competent professionals and increase public awareness of oral health. NHTI’s dental hygiene clinic is a classroom/ learning environment where student hygienists provide services at a minimal cost to the community. NHTI Dental Hygiene students have been evaluated for laboratory and clinical competency prior to treating patients in the clinic, and are closely supervised during treatment to provide optimal care.
River Valley Community College |
Claremont, New Hampshire | River Valley works closely with Cedarcrest — a center that provides continuous care for disabled children and their families by enriching their lives and providing medical care and comfort — to deliver a leadership development training program for Cedarcrest employees, allowing them to provide the highest quality of care to clients. This program is designed to create a positive environment for children and families, supporting team building, employee engagement, and customer service. River Valley worked with Cedarcrest to develop this unique program, customized for the clients that Cedarcrest serves.
Franklin Pierce University |
Rindge, New Hampshire |
Whether it is leading a senior citizen movement class or greeting local students on the first day of school, Franklin Pierce University Ravens impact the community in myriad positive ways. Studentathletes demonstrate an impressive level of character and commitment — completing thousands of hours of community service each year and our volunteer fire department supports surrounding towns while training a new generation of first responders.
Hellenic American University | Nashua, New Hampshire | The Politis Program of Civic Engagement combines service-learning opportunities, volunteer work, and other forms of co-curricular community involvement to expose students to community problems, and assists them in developing social, civic, and cultural responsibility. The Politis Program requires that all undergraduates complete a total of 45 hours of service-learning activities and community volunteer work prior to their graduation.
Keene State College | Keene, New Hampshire | Keene State College offers an alternative break program that invites students to take domestic and international service-based trips during college breaks and on weekends. Students travel in teams to complete service projects focusing on unmet community needs. In the process, they learn about social issues and the importance of civic engagement. Through a KSC reads program, students help support a community goal of ensuring all students can read well by the end of third grade. Federal work-study-eligible students and volunteers partner with local preschools to read to children, help them read out loud, and assist them with writing letters.
“The New Hampshire higher education institutions are essential engines of opportunity, preparing individuals and powering the state’s economy for the workforce of the future.”
Melinda Treadwell NHCUC Board Chair President, Keene University
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences | Manchester, New Hampshire | The Coalition of Occupational Therapy Advocates for Diversity (COTAD) student group at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS) donated 65 backpacks full of supplies for the upcoming school year to an organization in Manchester, NH, called Families in Transition. The organization provides affordable housing and emergency services to the unhoused population in the area. The backpacks included pencils, erasers, scissors, rulers, notebooks, books, crayons/markers, glue sticks, folders, water bottles, adhesive bandages, sticky note pads, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.
Nashua Community College | Nashua, New Hampshire | Nashua Community College partnered with the YMCA of Greater Nashua to offer Early Childhood Education (ECE) classes at the YMCA in Merrimack, providing a pathway for students to pursue their education. The program included on-site childcare and has successfully supported teens and adult learners, with several students on track to earn their Associate Teacher Certificate. This collaboration highlights Nashua Community College’s commitment to accessible education and quality training for early childhood professionals.
New England College | Henniker, New Hampshire | New England College (NEC) is one of the 10 founding colleges of Project Pericles, a national organization committed to civic and social engagement based on knowledge of the principles and history of American democracy. NEC’s Pericles program has two essential components: a theoretical, knowledge-based aspect and a civic engagement aspect, in which students become personally involved in civic and socially responsible service.
Plymouth State University | Plymouth, New Hampshire | Plymouth State University (PSU) students partnered with sponsors on numerous community events, including Choose Love, a free family day to promote collective wellbeing. The TIGER (Theatre Integrating Guidance, Education, and Responsibility) Program has helped communities proactively address social concerns for the past 20 years. The group has performed more than 2,500 shows, hosted 3,000 workshops, and visited 500 schools in New England.
Rivier University | Nashua, New Hampshire | Rivier University’s annual Sharing the Feast Project raises money from members of the Rivier University community and collects donated food items for Sunset Heights Elementary School families. Representatives from the 12 participating nonprofit agencies attended the traditional interfaith Thanksgiving prayer service, giving thanks and blessing the food and community members. At its conclusion, Rivier students and staff carried the donated food bags to the agencies’ waiting trucks and vans. This drive provides Thanksgiving meals for nearly 500 individuals and families.
Saint
Anselm College | Manchester, NH |
Students, faculty, and staff of St. Anselm volunteer with community agencies and schools that serve children, the unhoused, the elderly, people with special needs, those with mental illness, incarcerated individuals, and people recovering from substance abuse through The Meelia Center for Community Engagement. Each semester, about 150 students commit two or more hours per week at more than 50 local agencies. Students can also volunteer for occasional projects and special events such as the Valentine’s Day Dance for individuals who have neurodevelopmental and social-emotional difficulties, annual Children’s Holiday Festival, elderly food delivery, food drives, college shadowing days, and more.
Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester, NH | 1,648+ Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and volunteers contributed more than 9,196 hours of service during the university’s 8th annual Global Days of Service. Participants had the opportunity to join an official project in their area or take part in a do-it-yourself (DIY) project throughout the months of March, April, and early May. In 2023, the Global Days of Service planning committee saw an increase in site leader interest with 30 first timers joining the movement, in addition to 17 returning site leaders. Volunteers led seven global DIY projects and 36 local in-person projects, ranging in project locations from Canada to Ohio to North Carolina, allowing more pockets of SNHU community members to come together and serve.
University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH |
The University of New Hampshire serves the community in a variety of ways. UNH Extension sponsors a Women in the Woods program designed to support women who own land and includes training for using a chainsaw, identifying trees, tracking winter wildlife, and logging. The university sponsors sustainability networks that connect organizations working to advance sustainability in the state and participates in programs such as Food Solutions New England and New Hampshire Farm to School. A recent partnership between the university and indigenous organizations involved naming a series of trails and bridges on campus to honor the indigenous people who first occupied the land.
Conclusion
New Hampshire’s nonprofit colleges and universities have a meaningful impact on the state’s economy and society. These institutions, whether community colleges or research universities, help shape local communities and address workforce demands
White Mountains Community College | Berlin, New Hampshire | White Mountains Community College launched Meals IncludED, a first-of-its-kind program tackling food insecurity by providing enrolled students with free daily meals. Supported by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the initiative aims to remove barriers to academic success, serving 7,700 meals weekly across White Mountains Community College’s campuses while fostering a sense of community. White Mountains Community College’s culinary students contribute to the program as part of their hands-on training, aligning with the college’s mission to enhance learning and student engagement.
across the state. As demographics shift across the state and the need for workers with post-secondary credentials grows, the role of New Hampshire’s nonprofit colleges and universities is increasingly vital.
Appendix A: Terms & Definitions
Direct Economic Impact – All direct expenditures made by an organization due to its operating expenditures. These include operating expenditures, capital expenditures, contracts, and pay and benefits expenditures.
Direct Employment – Total number of employees, both full-time and part-time, at the organization based on total jobs, not FTEs.
Dollar Year – Presented in 2024 dollars.
Government Revenue/State and Local Tax Impact – Government revenue or tax revenue that is collected by governmental units at the state and local levels in addition to those paid directly by an organization. This impact includes taxes paid directly by the organization itself, employees of the organization and vendors who sell products to the organization, and at the household level.
IMPLAN Data Year – 2023
Indirect Economic Impact – The indirect impact includes the impact of local industries buying goods and services from other local industries. The cycle of spending works its way backward through the supply chain until all money is spent outside of the local economy, either through imports or by payments to value added (multiplier effect).
Indirect Employment – Additional jobs created as a result of an organization’s economic impact. Local companies or vendors that provide goods and services to an organization increase their number of employees as purchasing increases, thus creating an employment multiplier.
Induced Economic Impact – The response by an economy to an initial change (direct effect) that occurs through re-spending of income received by a component of value added. IMPLAN’s default multiplier recognizes that labor income (employee compensation and proprietor income components of value added) is not lost to the regional economy. This money is recirculated through household spending patterns causing further local economic activity (multiplier effect).
Induced Employment – Additional jobs created as a result of household spending by employees of an organization and the employees of vendors. This is another wave of the employment multiplier.
Multiplier Effect – The multiplier effect is the additional economic impact created as a result of the organization’s direct economic impact. Local companies that provide goods and services to an organization increase their purchasing by creating a multiplier (indirect/supply-chain impacts). Household spending generated by employees of the organization and the organization’s suppliers create a third wave of multiplier impact (induced/household-spending impacts).
Study Year – FY 2023
Total Economic Output/Economic Impact – Includes organizational spending on operations, capital expenditures, labor income expenditures, and value added to the economy as a result of expenditures made by an organization. It is the combined impact of direct, indirect, and induced impacts.
Appendix B: Data & Methods
Parker Strategy Group gathered information from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to complete the contribution analysion. Data supplied included operating expenditures (less depreciation, amortization and interest), capital spending, pay and benefits, and total employees. Primary and secondary data were used to complete the input-output models in IMPLAN. The study approach and economic-impact findings are a conservative estimate of impact and are based on actual financial information. The impact study is a snapshot in time of New Hampshire’s nonprofit higher education sector.
Overview and the Implan Model
The most common and widely accepted methodology for measuring the economic impacts of economic sectors is input-output (I-O) analysis. At its core, an I-O analysis is a table that records the flow of resources to and from companies/ organizations and individuals within a region at a given time. For a specified region such as a state, the I-O table accounts for all dollar flows among different sectors of the economy in a given period. With this information, a model can then follow how a dollar added into one sector is spent and represented in other sectors of the economy, generating outgoing ripples of subsequent economic activity. This chain of economic activity created by one event is called the “economic multiplier” effect.
The primary tool used in the performance of this study is the I-O model and data set developed and maintained by IMPLAN Group LLC (formerly Minnesota IMPLAN Group Inc.). IMPLAN is a widely accepted and used software model first developed by the U.S. Forest Service in 1972. Data used in the baseline IMPLAN model and data set come largely from federal-government databases. The I-O tables themselves come from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Much of the annual data on labor, wages, final demand and other market data come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau and other government sources.
Government agencies, companies, and researchers use IMPLAN to estimate the economic activities associated with spending in a particular industry or
on a particular project. The IMPLAN model extends conventional I-O modeling to include the economic relationships among government, industry, and household sectors, allowing IMPLAN to model transfer payments such as taxes. Producers of goods and services must secure labor, raw materials, and other services to produce their product.
The resources transferred to the owners of that labor or those raw materials and services are then used to secure additional goods and services or inputs to the products they sell. For example, an organization in a region may develop a company that produces tractors with a value of $1 million. However, to produce that product, they may be required to spend $500,000 in wages and benefits, $200,000 to suppliers of tractor parts, $100,000 for electricity, $50,000 for transportation of goods and raw materials to and from the plant, and $50,000 in various professional services fees associated with operating a business (e.g., attorneys and accountants). The suppliers will, in turn, spend those resources on labor and raw materials necessary to produce tractors. Workers and the owners of the company will buy goods and services from other firms in the area (e.g., restaurants and gas stations) and pay taxes. The suppliers, employees and owners of this second tier will, in turn, spend those resources on other goods and services whether within the study region or elsewhere. The cycle continues until all of the money leaves the region.
The model uses national production functions for more than 528 industries to determine how an industry spends its operating receipts to produce its commodities. These production functions are derived from U.S. Census Bureau data. IMPLAN couples the national production functions with a variety of county-level economic data to determine the impacts at a state and congressional-district level. IMPLAN collects data from a variety of economic data sources to generate average output, employment, and productivity for each industry in a given county. IMPLAN combines this data to generate a series of economic multipliers for the
Considerations
Concerning Implan
There are three important points about the use of IMPLAN (or any other I-O model):
It is a fixed-price model. The model assumes that changes in consumption are not limited by capacity and do not affect prices. This assumption does not cause a problem for the analysis presented here, because we are taking a snapshot of nonprofit higher education in New Hampshire for FY23. As in many studies using this type of model, the direct impacts are not calculated by the model; they reflect actual spending levels and patterns created by New Hampshire’s nonprofit colleges and universities. Changing the level of direct spending allows us to calculate the magnitude of the indirect and induced effects associated with the initial level of spending.
study area. The multiplier measures the amount of total economic activity generated by a specific industry’s spending an additional dollar in the study area. Based on these multipliers, IMPLAN generates a series of tables to show the economic event’s direct, indirect, and induced impacts to gross receipts, or output, within each of the model’s more than 528 industries. The model calculates three types of effects: direct, indirect, and induced. The economic impact of the public and private nonprofit colleges and universities in Hampshire is the sum of these three effects.
Because the model continues to calculate additional spending until all of the money leaves the region (i.e., “leakage”), the larger and more economically diverse the region, the longer it will take for spending to leave the region and the larger the impact is likely to be. For example, an employee of a college or university may spend some amount of their income on buying a car. If there are no car manufacturers in the state or county, this spending will leave the region and the multiplier effect will stop. At the national level, a portion of that same spending by that same individual may go to a national auto producer. That spending would lead to more spending at the national level than would be captured by a more regional model. The national impact will be larger than the sum in the individual states, and the individual state impact will be larger than the sum of the impacts in its congressional districts.
Appendix C: FAQs
What
is an
Economic
Contribution Analysis?
Technically, this study is a contribution analysis. The study quantifies the economic contribution of nonprofit colleges and universities in the state of New Hampshire in terms of economic impact, jobs, and local and state tax revenue. The study calculates how spending by employees, visitors, and students contributes to the economy of New Hampshire. It examines how expenditures create additional impact in the economy directly and through the multiplier.
For the purposes of this study, an economic contribution is defined as the gross changes in New Hampshire’s existing economy that can be attributed to nonprofit higher education.
Contribution analysis is a descriptive analysis that tracks gross economic activity: how spending by the colleges and universities and their constituencies cycle dollars through the economy. The economiccontribution analysis does not consider how spending at one college or university may crowd out spending at another college or university within the state. This type of analysis is one of the most common that is performed and is often mislabeled as an economic-impact study. Please note that while the terms used to express the contribution of nonprofit higher education to the statewide economy are referred to as economic impact, this is a contribution analysis.
Spending by students, staff, and faculty who are explicitly participating in activities associated with nonprofit higher education’s output represents a “stemming-from effect” and could also be considered a direct effect of the higher-education industry. For example, students who attend classes
and spend $10 on lunch at a local restaurant are a stemming-from effect of the college or university. This contribution analysis then follows the direct economic activity and associated stemming-from effects through the economy, with the output of each sector broken down and attributed to expenditures on intermediate inputs or to valueadded components such as labor, taxes, and returns to capital. Output multipliers, which are sector- and region-specific, are derived from the appropriate model and relate an industry’s economic activity (or changes in the industry’s economic activity) to gross sales in the other sectors of the regional economy.
The contribution analysis does not account for the fact that if a student attending class was a local resident, then the $10 they spent on lunch potentially represents $10 they are not spending at another restaurant elsewhere in town. The direct effect in a contribution analysis includes purchases by students from in and out of state and is neither a measure of changes to the state’s economic base nor a measure of the value added to the region above what was paid to input suppliers.
What should you remember about the study when you read it?
• It is a point-in-time calculation of impact for FY 2023.
• It quantifies the amount of impact that the colleges and universities produce each year.
• The economic numbers can fluctuate from year to year based on operational spending, capital spending, pay and benefits, number of employees, number of students and state appropriation.
• These are conservative numbers and adhere to industry respected protocols.
What methodology was used to complete this study?
IMPLAN data and software were used to conduct this economic-contribution analysis. The IMPLAN database is built using county, state, ZIP-code, and federal economic statistics that are specialized by region, not estimated from national averages, to measure the contribution or impact of an organization’s economic activity.
What were the multipliers for this study? What were the multipliers for this study?
The multipliers used in this study range from 1.8 to 2.1. The multipliers are derived through the I-O models created using the IMPLAN software based upon industries selected during the modeling process.
What are the community-benefit impacts based upon?
What data does this study use to complete the economic impact?
Primary data used in this analysis is for FY23 and were obtained from IPEDS. Data addresses the following subjects:
•Operating expenditures
•Capital expenditures
•Pay and benefits by employee type
•Number and types of students (all in-state and out-of-state students included)
•Volunteerism
•Charitable giving
•Alumni data
Secondary data were used to estimate the following:
•Student spending habits based on the colleges and universities’ budgets for spending (full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students, excluding tuition and fees)
•Visitor numbers and visitor spending habits (day and overnight visitors)
•
Charitable-giving impacts are based upon assumptions found in the U.S. Census donor data. These models do not assume a 100% participation rate for staff, faculty, and students and are not based on averages. Some colleges and universities had primary data available on volunteerism, and in those cases actual hours were used in the calculation. For the purposes of this study, it is assumed that 24.9% of staff and faculty donate an average of $2,064 annually and 14.9% of students donate an average of $250 each year.
Volunteer impacts are based upon assumptions found in the U.S. Census, and the value of a volunteer hour was obtained from the University of Maryland Do Good Institute and is estimated at $29.95 per hour.
NHCUC Member Institutions
"On behalf of the members and board of NHCUC, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Debby Scire for her dedicated leadership and service as president of our organization. Her commitment to strengthening higher education in New Hampshire has helped ensure that institutions across the state continue to provide students with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive. Her tireless efforts have contributed to a stronger workforce, a more vibrant economy and expanded access to high-quality post-secondary education across New Hampshire."
Mica Stark President & CEO, NHCUC
