Exclusive: NH College Dems slam Republican budget over potential tuition hikes

Just days after National College Admission Day, when students across the country formally commit to their future universities, New Hampshire College Democrats have sharply criticized the Republican-led 2026 state budget proposal for cutting funding to public higher education, potentially triggering the steepest tuition increase in over a decade.

New Hampshire already faces some of the highest in-state tuition rates nationwide, largely due to years of declining state investment. Currently, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) charges roughly $19,000 per year for in-state tuition, one of the highest public university tuition rates in the country. 

Under the proposed Republican budget, which significantly reduces state aid to the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), these costs would rise even further, making college increasingly unaffordable for many Granite State students.

In a joint statement, student leaders from Keene State College, the University of New Hampshire, and Plymouth State University expressed alarm over the implications of the budget. 

“Make no mistake: the Republican budget would disproportionately harm Granite State students because it would result in the largest in-state tuition increase in over a decade,” said Mary Ronning, Student Body President at Keene State College; Lucas Coriaty, President of the UNH College Democrats; Oscar Lakowicz, President of the Plymouth State University Democrats; and Siena Schaier, Executive Committee Member of the New Hampshire College Democrats.

 “Defunding our public colleges and universities is counterproductive to the long-term health and success of our state and its economy. We should be investing more in public higher education, not less,” they added. 

The student leaders specifically criticized State Representative Joe Sweeney and Governor Kelly Ayotte, accusing Republicans in Concord of prioritizing partisan, culture-war issues over meaningful investments in education and economic growth.

New Hampshire Republicans have made attacks on education at every level the central pillar of their 2025 policy agenda, pushing a sweeping expansion of the school voucher program, banning books in New Hampshire schools, and most recently trying to pressure New Hampshire colleges from accepting international students, a move led by Rep. Sweeney that has been called “blatant nativism”.

The University System of New Hampshire plays a critical role in the state’s economy, contributing billions annually. UNH alone generates $1.3 billion each year in economic activity, supports approximately 9,000 jobs, and contributes over $74 million in state and local tax revenue. Yet, despite these contributions, New Hampshire consistently ranks last nationally in funding for public higher education.

This chronic underfunding contributes directly to the state’s demographic challenges. A 2023 Stay Work Play survey indicated that young adults increasingly choose to leave New Hampshire due to high tuition, unaffordable housing, limited childcare, and inadequate public transportation.

The impact on university enrollments is stark: UNH-Durham reported an 86.7% acceptance rate for Fall 2022, yet 71% of those accepted students chose not to enroll, suggesting cost plays a significant factor in their decisions.

“New Hampshire is at a crossroads,” the student leaders concluded. “Resolving this crisis requires a commitment not only to Granite State students but to New Hampshire’s future success. It’s clear that Governor Ayotte, Rep. Sweeney, and Republicans in Concord are incapable of rising to that challenge.”