Public Administration and Social Service Professions at University of New Hampshire at Manchester

A $27,000 debt load for first-year earnings around $44,600 represents a manageable ratio of 0.61—meaning graduates would owe roughly seven months of their first year's salary. Based on national patterns for public administration bachelor's programs, this falls squarely in the middle range, suggesting neither exceptional outcomes nor troubling debt burdens.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With too few graduates to generate reliable school-specific data, these estimates draw from peer programs nationwide. New Hampshire has only two schools offering this bachelor's program, and neither reports sufficient graduate numbers for precise tracking. This could mean UNH Manchester's program is small and tailored, or it could signal limited local demand for these credentials. Either way, parents should recognize they're evaluating a program without a established track record of graduate outcomes.

For students serious about public service careers—whether in nonprofits, government agencies, or social services—the estimated financial picture isn't alarming. The debt burden appears serviceable on typical entry-level salaries in these fields. However, before committing, verify what makes this specific program distinctive: internship partnerships, placement rates with New Hampshire agencies, or faculty connections that could offset the lack of outcome data. Without that concrete evidence of value, you're essentially betting on a program that hasn't yet proven itself through graduate success.