Accredited nursing programs in New Hampshire
17 schools in New Hampshire have at least one nursing program accredited by ACEN or CCNE: 8 BSN, 9 ADN, 2 LPN, 5 MSN programs. For the bachelor’s degree, 6 of 8 listings are CCNE and 2 are ACEN.
- Bachelor's programs
- 8
- 2 ACEN, 6 CCNE
- Associate programs
- 9
- 9 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Practical programs
- 2
- 2 ACEN, 0 CCNE
- Master's programs
- 5
- 2 ACEN, 3 CCNE
Accredited schools in New Hampshire
| School | City | Type | BSN | ADN | LPN | MSN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby-Sawyer College | New London | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| Franklin Pierce University | Rindge | Private | ACEN | – | – | ACEN |
| Great Bay Community College | Portsmouth | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Harmony Health Care Institute | Merrimack | For-profit | – | – | ACEN | – |
| Keene State College | Keene | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Lakes Region Community College | Laconia | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Manchester Community College | Manchester | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Nashua Community College | Nashua | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| NHTI-Concord's Community College | Concord | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth | Public | CCNE | – | – | – |
| River Valley Community College | Claremont | Public | – | ACEN | ACEN | – |
| Rivier University | Nashua | Private | ACEN | ACEN | – | ACEN |
| Saint Anselm College | Manchester | Private | CCNE | – | – | – |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Manchester | Private | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| St Joseph School of Nursing | Nashua | Private | – | ACEN | – | – |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | Durham | Public | CCNE | – | – | CCNE |
| White Mountains Community College | Berlin | Public | – | ACEN | – | – |
Programs listed as accredited in the ACEN directory (opens in a new tab) and the CCNE directory (opens in a new tab), collected November 2026 and matched to schools by name and city. Programs in candidacy are not counted. A dash means no accredited program at that level was matched.
What accreditation means in New Hampshire
Two separate approvals apply to a nursing program. The New Hampshire board of nursing approves programs so their graduates can sit the NCLEX. Programmatic accreditation from ACEN or CCNE is voluntary and is judged by a national peer body.
Associate programs are the most common accredited level here, with 9. For bachelor’s degrees, 8 of 9 schools reporting graduates to the federal government matched an accredited program (89%).
Common questions
How many nursing schools in New Hampshire are accredited?
We matched 17 New Hampshire schools to at least one accredited nursing program in the ACEN and CCNE directories: 8 BSN, 9 ADN, 2 LPN, 5 MSN. Schools with several programs appear once.
What is the difference between ACEN and CCNE?
ACEN accredits nursing programs at every level, from practical nursing to doctorates. CCNE accredits bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs. Both are recognized by the US Department of Education.
Do I need an accredited program to become a nurse in New Hampshire?
Not always. The state board of nursing approves programs for licensure, and that is a separate approval from ACEN or CCNE accreditation. Accreditation still matters for transferring credits, federal and employer tuition benefits, and entry to graduate programs.
Are all New Hampshire bachelor’s programs accredited?
8 of the 9 New Hampshire schools that report nursing bachelor’s graduates to the federal government matched an accredited listing. A school that does not match may be new, may be listed under another name, or may lack accreditation, so check the accreditor’s own directory before you apply.