Education and Career Pathways

Why it matters

Fair access to high-quality education, supported by meaningful state investments, is critical for developing educated citizens, sustaining democracy and growing the economy. Everyone in New Hampshire is better off when every student has access to an excellent education.

But New Hampshire is falling short. Unconstitutionally low per-pupil spending by the state combined with an over-reliance on local property taxes creates broad inequities in which children in the highest-poverty school districts have the lowest student outcomes.

Consistent underfunding of public colleges and universities has resulted in among the highest tuition rates in the country — and in New Hampshire students carrying among the highest rates of student debt. New Hampshire’s community colleges charge among the highest tuition of any in the country, creating another barrier for young people looking to build rewarding careers in New Hampshire.

Additional factors threaten our education systems. The proposed dismantling of the federal Department of Education would have sweeping implications — particularly for the most vulnerable children. A politicized movement in New Hampshire has championed laws targeting LGBTQ+ students; spurred book bans; attempted to limit access to a full and inclusive curriculum; and led to the creation of an education voucher system that is projected to funnel $50 million away from public schools and into private, religious, and home schools in the current school year.

50

New Hampshire’s rank in state funding for public K-12 schools and higher education, among the 50 states.

$500 million

Amount by which New Hampshire underfunds its public schools annually.

57%

Percentage of New Hampshire’s college-bound students who leave the state to pursue degrees elsewhere — about double the national average of 26%.

$1 million

Increase in lifetime earnings for people who have completed a bachelor’s degree vs. those with just a high school education.

What we're doing

With the help of generous donors, we are funding advocacy for fair funding of K-12 public schools and increased investment in higher education; Supporting apprenticeship programs and other pathways to careers in New Hampshire; providing scholarships to about 2,000 students a year to students of all ages for community college, four-year college and professional training and certificate programs; working with generous people to create additional scholarship funds that are not restricted by region or area of study — and more.

Shereen Badawy teaches French at Southside Middle School in Manchester, NH. (Photo by Cheryl Senter)

Advocating for excellence and fairness

Operating grants are helping to sustain the work of the New Hampshire School Funding Fairness Project, a nonpartisan group advocating for school funding and property-tax fairness; Reaching Higher New Hampshire, which provides research and resources to champion excellence in public education; and nonpartisan advocacy for the rights of educators and students to teach and learn the full scope of history and for the rights of LGBTQ+ young people.

Steven Martinez of Manchester is completing his fourth year of schooling to become a licensed plumbing contractor thanks to a New Hampshire Charitable Foundation scholarship. (Photo by Cheryl Senter.)

Awarding millions in scholarships

The Foundation is the largest publicly available source of student aid in New Hampshire. Our Student Aid team manages more than 500 scholarship funds created by generous people, and awards about $8 million annually to New Hampshire students studying for two- and four-year degrees and for industry certificates and credentials.

A graduate speaks at the podium in front of an audience of his peers

Supporting innovative partnerships

A grant is supporting a partnership between the Portsmouth Housing Authority and Great Bay Community College, which helps people with low incomes who live in public housing to get the supports they need to enroll in and complete associate’s degree programs — an important step toward economic mobility. (Courtesy photo)

A man and woman at a table with a laptop computer

Helping adult students with low incomes get degrees

Many adult students with families and full-time jobs work at getting their college degrees one class at a time. Yet college students who are not enrolled in school at least half-time are not eligible for federal aid. The Foundation provides aid to those students.

Short-term goals

Given recent federal and state policy and budget actions, our focus for the next three to five years will be:

Reach more students who need help the most

We are doing community outreach and working with high schools and colleges to make sure that Foundation aid is reaching the students with the greatest barriers to opportunity — including first-generation college students, New Americans and those from families with low incomes.

Increase unrestricted scholarship funding

We are working with generous donors to encourage increased funding for scholarships — that is not restricted by region or field of study — to ensure that more young people who need help get help.

Advocate for an excellent education for all New Hampshire kids

We will continue to fund nonpartisan groups advocating for school funding fairness, increased investment in higher education and an educational system that respects and celebrates and protects all of our kids.

Support effective career pathway options

We are working with partners in business, education and the nonprofit sector to increase options available for New Hampshire students to enter into a variety of rewarding careers.

Stories and updates

Danna Gonzalez of Manchester is a college student enrolled through the Duet program, a nonprofit community partner of Southern New Hampshire University. (Photo by Cheryl Senter.)

For more information, contact:

Hilary Miskoe
Director of Student Aid and Grants Data Analyst

603-225-6641 ext 235
Email Hilary