Let’s be real for a second: figuring out what a degree actually costs feels like trying to assemble IKEA furniture in the dark. You see one price on the homepage, another in the fine print, and then suddenly there's a "technology fee" you didn't see coming. If you're looking at Southern New Hampshire University cost per credit, you’ve probably noticed they shout about their affordability from the rooftops.
But does the math actually hold up when the bill hits your inbox?
Honestly, SNHU is one of the few places that doesn't play games with their pricing. They haven't raised their online tuition in over a decade, which is kind of wild if you think about what’s happened to the price of eggs or gas since then.
The Raw Numbers: What You’ll Actually Pay
If you’re hopping into an online undergraduate program, the magic number is $342 per credit. Most classes are three credits, so you're looking at $1,026 per course.
It’s straightforward. No hidden "out-of-state" spikes. If you live in Manchester, New Hampshire, or Maui, Hawaii, you pay the same $342.
Graduate students have a different bracket. For a master's degree, the Southern New Hampshire University cost per credit jumps to $659. Again, that's $1,977 per three-credit course. While that’s obviously a steeper climb than the undergrad rate, it’s still significantly lower than many private brick-and-mortar universities that can easily clear $1,000 per credit for grad school.
The Military Discount is Huge
If you are active-duty military or a spouse, the numbers change completely. SNHU is pretty famous for its military-friendly vibe.
- Undergraduate Military Rate: $231 per credit
- Graduate Military Rate: $470 per credit
Basically, they try to align their pricing so it fits within the Tuition Assistance (TA) caps provided by the Department of Defense. It’s a massive gap—saving over $100 per credit on the undergrad side. If you're serving, this is a no-brainer.
What About the "Hidden" Costs?
Here is the part where most colleges get you: the fees. You know, the "student activity fee" for an online student who lives 2,000 miles away.
SNHU is weirdly clean here.
There is no application fee.
There are no hidden lab fees for most programs.
Even the graduation fee is gone.
The one place where the price can creep up is books. SNHU estimates about $1,000 to $1,500 a year for materials, but let's be honest—if you're savvy and use digital versions or used copies, you can usually hack that number down.
Comparing the Campus vs. Online Experience
It’s worth noting that "SNHU" actually has two different price tags depending on whether you’re sitting in a physical classroom in Hooksett or clicking through modules in your pajamas.
The campus tuition is a different beast. For 2025-2026, the on-campus undergraduate tuition is roughly $17,010 per year (based on $567 per credit). When you add in the **$1,400 comprehensive fee** and the $9,200 to $11,200 for housing, the bill starts looking much more like a traditional university.
If you're a campus student, you're also looking at:
- A $4,000 dining plan (mandatory if you live on campus).
- Health insurance costs (roughly $2,519 unless you waive it).
- Specific lab fees for engineering students that run about $3,000 a year.
Is it Actually "Cheap" Compared to Others?
"Cheap" is a relative term. If you compare SNHU to a big-name private school like NYU or USC, it’s a bargain. If you compare it to a local community college, it’s expensive.
Let’s look at the mid-tier competition. Western Governors University (WGU) uses a flat-rate model where you pay about $4,000 to $5,000 per six-month term, regardless of how many credits you finish. If you’re a "speed runner" who can knock out 10 classes in six months, WGU is cheaper. But if you’re a busy parent taking one or two classes at a time, SNHU's pay-as-you-go model is often more predictable.
University of Phoenix and Liberty University usually hover in the $390 to $450 range per credit. So, at $342, SNHU is objectively on the lower end of the national average for private online education.
How to Get That Number Even Lower
Most people don't actually pay the full Southern New Hampshire University cost per credit out of pocket. There are a few "hacks" to slash the total cost of the degree.
Transfer Credits are King
SNHU is incredibly aggressive about accepting transfer credits—up to 90 credits for a bachelor’s degree. If you have old credits from a community college, or even work experience that can be evaluated for credit, you can essentially skip three-quarters of the degree.
Sophia Learning and Modern States
This is the "secret menu" of online college. SNHU accepts credits from providers like Sophia.org. You can pay a monthly subscription (around $99) and knock out general education classes like Algebra or English Comp in a few weeks. Each class you finish there is one less $1,026 course you have to pay SNHU for.
Employer Tuition Assistance
Because SNHU is nonprofit and regionally accredited, almost every major employer with a tuition reimbursement program (like Amazon, Walmart, or Target) will cover it. In some cases, like with Amazon's Career Choice, the cost is covered 100% upfront.
Financial Aid: The FAFSA Factor
You still have to do the paperwork. To get federal grants or loans, you’ll need to fill out the FAFSA (SNHU school code: 002580).
If you qualify for the Pell Grant, that money applies directly to your $342-per-credit cost. For many students, a full Pell Grant can cover nearly 60% of their yearly tuition at SNHU, leaving a very small gap to cover with loans or out-of-pocket cash.
🔗 Read more: Why the Coke Super Bowl Commercial Still Wins the Ad War Every Year
Actionable Steps to Figure Out Your Bill
Don't just guess. Here is exactly what you should do right now to see if this fits your budget:
- Check your transcripts: Gather every scrap of paper from previous colleges. Use SNHU’s free transcript evaluation to see how many of those $342 credits you can delete from your future.
- Audit your employer benefits: Log into your HR portal. Search for "Tuition Reimbursement." You might find they’ll pay for the whole thing or at least $5,250 of it per year (the IRS limit for tax-free employer assistance).
- Look at Sophia.org: See if your major's general education requirements can be knocked out there first. It's the fastest way to turn a $40,000 degree into a $25,000 degree.
- Run the Net Price Calculator: SNHU has a tool on its site where you plug in your income and family size to get a realistic estimate of your financial aid package.
The bottom line? The Southern New Hampshire University cost per credit is high enough that it’s an investment, but low enough that you don't necessarily need to ruin your financial life to get the diploma. It’s all about how many credits you bring with you and how many "outside" credits you can use to bridge the gap.