Keene State College
Keene State College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Keene State College at a Glance
Keene State College is a public liberal arts college in Keene, New Hampshire. It is part of the University System of New Hampshire. It was founded in 1909 as a Normal School, and then as a Teachers College.
1909
117 years old
2,867
2,744 undergrad · 123 grad
170 acres
Identity
Is Keene State College Worth It?
Keene State College offers moderate value at $17,887/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,368, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 59% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With a 90% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
How Keene State College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #47 of 138 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #2 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #3 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
| #4 | Bates Technical College | 86 | $6,292 | $50,051 |
| #5 | University of Illinois Springfield | 83 | $9,833 | $57,103 |
| #6 | Snow College | 83 | $5,552 | $41,022 |
| #47 | Keene State College | 45 | $17,887 | $54,368 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Keene State College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 2 in NH.
Best Programs at Keene State College
The highest-earning program at Keene State College is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $59,100/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $19,900/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from Keene State College earns $59,100, while a Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduate earns $19,900. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $27,000 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $17,887/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $59,100 | $59,100 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $53,700 | $53,700 | $25,288 |
| Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians | $46,900 | $46,900 | $26,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $41,100 | $41,100 | $26,000 |
| Architecture | $39,900 | $39,900 | $25,772 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $33,600 | $33,600 | $27,000 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $33,200 | $33,200 | $26,061 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $32,500 | $32,500 | $26,250 |
| Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other | $31,300 | $31,300 | $22,251 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $30,100 | $30,100 | $24,899 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $29,800 | $29,800 | $27,000 |
| History | $29,200 | $29,200 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | $28,600 | $28,600 | $27,000 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $28,300 | $28,300 | $26,994 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $28,200 | $28,200 | $26,000 |
| Psychology, General | $27,800 | $27,800 | $26,000 |
| Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services | $25,600 | $25,600 | $26,373 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $23,500 | $23,500 | $22,750 |
| Geography and Cartography | $22,900 | $22,900 | $27,000 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $19,900 | $19,900 | $25,000 |
Similar Colleges in NH
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Keene, NH
- Student Body
- 2,699 students
- Admission Rate
- 90%
- Graduation Rate
- 59%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $17,887
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,368
- Median Student Debt
- $25,749