Keene State College
Keene, New Hampshire · Public · 90.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 53/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Keene State College is a small public liberal arts campus in southwest New Hampshire scoring 53 on the CampusROI scale - Below Average Value tier. The cost stack is moderate by public-school standards: $14,784 in-state tuition, $26,840 out-of-state, $17,887 average net price, and a $71,548 four-year total. Outcomes sit in the middle: 10-year median earnings of $54,368 produce a 27.1% earnings premium (sub-score 59) and a 10.9-year payback period (sub-score 56). The challenge is the debt side - $25,749 of median debt against those earnings yields a 0.71 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 27), the weakest input. Repayment at 80.7% (sub-score 73) is solid, and completion at 60.1% (sub-score 60) is decent. The institutional pattern reflects a state university system (USNH) whose tuition has historically run higher than most regional publics because of low state appropriations. The honest read: Keene State delivers a credible liberal arts experience, but the cost-to-earnings math is structurally pinched by NH's high public tuition relative to other New England state systems.
Keene State College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $14,784/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $26,840/yr |
| Average net price | $17,887/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $71,548 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,368 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $36,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,749 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $273 |
| Estimated payback period | 10.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,699 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $14,784/year ($26,840/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $17,887/year, or roughly $71,548 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $12,192/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $22,928/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,749 in federal loans, which works out to about $273 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $54,368 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.71, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $12,192 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,536 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,045 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $18,004 |
| $110,001+ | $22,928 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $12,192 net annually - slightly below the $30,001-$48,000 bracket's $12,536, a clean low-income progression. Over four years that is roughly $49,000 of cost. For Pell-eligible NH students this is workable, particularly with state aid (NH Granite Edge), and the 80.7% repayment rate suggests graduates do reliably service their debt.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $16,045 and $75,001-$110,000 pays $18,004 - $64,000-$72,000 over four years. The math here is tight: Keene State's earnings premium is moderate, and at this price point students should compare carefully against UMass options for out-of-state NH students or community college transfer paths.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $22,928 net, or about $92,000 over four years - roughly equivalent to UNH-Main Campus full-pay. At this tier, UNH-Main typically delivers stronger outcomes for the same dollar, making Keene a fit-driven rather than ROI-driven choice.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Keene State College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $87,710 | B |
| Psychology | $51,904 | D |
| Teacher Education | $48,940 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $69,674 | C+ |
| Architecture | $61,304 | C |
| History | $46,428 | C |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $53,291 | C |
| English Language and Literature | $48,091 | C |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $45,423 | D |
| Sociology | $47,885 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
Quality Control/Safety Tech is Keene's surprise flagship ROI program with 62 graduates per year - one of the largest cohorts on campus. Graduates earn $63,479 at one year and $87,710 at four years against $26,000 of debt - a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. The four-year earnings figure is exceptional and reflects strong demand in New England manufacturing, environmental compliance, and OSHA/safety roles. This is genuinely the best ROI track at Keene.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is the second-largest cohort at 59 graduates per year. Graduates earn $41,564 at one year and $48,940 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade. New Hampshire teaching salaries are constrained by state pay scales; PSLF eligibility is the most important financial factor for graduates entering public-school teaching.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business is the third-largest cohort at 51 graduates per year. Graduates earn $47,847 at one year and $69,674 at four years against $26,000 of debt - a 0.54 ratio and a C+ grade. The four-year earnings figure is reasonable for a regional public business program and reflects placement in Boston-area corporate roles for many graduates.
Psychology
Psychology is one of the larger cohorts at 61 graduates per year, but financially weaker. Graduates earn $34,633 at one year and $51,904 at four years against $26,000 of debt - a 0.75 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. As is typical for bachelor's psychology, well-paid clinical paths require master's or doctoral training; families should plan for that pipeline before committing to the major.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video and Photographic Arts has 28 graduates per year. Graduates earn $27,261 at one year and $45,423 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.99 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. Debt nearly equals annual earnings, which is structurally hard to recover from on a 10-year repayment plan. Career paths are competitive nationally and not concentrated in New England.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.3% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Keene State College’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 90.3% |
| Enrollment | 2,699 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,286 |
Keene State admits 90.3% of applicants, making it broadly accessible. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is consistent with a test-optional posture. The 60.1% completion rate is reasonable for an open-access regional public, suggesting that admitted students who commit to the residential program generally finish. Selectivity is not the gating factor here; major selection and cost management are.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Keene State's CampusROI peer set includes UNH-Main Campus, UNH-Manchester, SUNY-Delhi, Frostburg State (MD), and Longwood University (VA). UNH-Main Campus materially outperforms Keene on completion and earnings - it's the flagship and pulls stronger students. UNH-Manchester is more comparable. SUNY-Delhi and Frostburg post similar outcomes. Longwood (a small Virginia public) is the closest direct comp by mission and posts comparable ROI metrics. Within this peer set, Keene sits roughly in the middle on most ROI inputs.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keene State College (this school) | 53 | $17,887 | $54,368 |
| University of New Hampshire at Manchester | 77 | $9,992 | $66,479 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | 74 | $23,805 | $66,479 |
| Frostburg State University | 54 | $16,715 | $55,493 |
| SUNY College of Technology at Delhi | 52 | $17,225 | $51,629 |
| Longwood University | 50 | $19,066 | $52,347 |
Who Thrives Here
With 2,699 students, a 26.2% Pell rate (relatively low), and a small-college residential identity, Keene fits New England students who want a public-school price point with a small-campus feel and access to outdoor recreation. Outcomes look strong for the 62-graduate quality-control safety-tech cohort ($87,710 four-year, B grade) and nursing ($82,061 four-year). They look weak for fine arts, film/video, and kinesiology - cohorts where debt-to-earnings ratios approach or exceed 1.0.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Keene State College is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $17,887 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $54,368 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 10.9 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $25,749 against $54,368 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Keene State College: Common Questions
Is Keene State College worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. Keene State College scores 53/100 on our ROI scale. At $17,887 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $54,368 ten years after entry, so it takes about 10.9 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools.
How much does Keene State College cost after financial aid?
The average net price - what students actually pay after grants and scholarships - is about $17,887 a year, or roughly $71,548 over four years. That is the number to plan around, not the sticker price. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Keene State College graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,368 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,568 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Keene State College?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 10.9 years for Keene State College. Most four-year schools we track land between 4 and 10 years.
How much debt do Keene State College graduates take on?
Median debt at graduation is about $25,749, against $54,368 in typical earnings a decade out. That is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Keene State College?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.1%, below the 64% national average (NCES, 2022) - and not finishing is the fastest route to a poor return. Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.