Southern New Hampshire University

What is the history of Southern New Hampshire University?

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) began in 1932 as a school focused on accounting and secretarial training. Founded by Harry A.B. Shapiro and Gertrude Crockett Shapiro, it later broadened its curriculum, became New Hampshire College and adopted its current name in 2001.

Its development into a large online university is central to its identity today. SNHU began offering online coursework in the 1990s and subsequently expanded its degree programs for students studying away from Manchester. That history helps explain why the residential campus and online programs can offer quite different experiences even though they belong to the same university.

What are the faculties and departments at Southern New Hampshire University?

SNHU offers associate, bachelor's and graduate programs across business, education, health, liberal arts, science and technology. Its academic organization includes the School of Business, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education, alongside programs delivered through its online division.

Representative fields include accounting, business administration, psychology, criminal justice, computer science, nursing and creative writing. Program availability and format are not interchangeable: a degree listed in the university's online catalog may not be offered on the Manchester campus, and a campus-based program may have requirements that cannot be completed remotely. Applicants should check the catalog entry for their intended program and learning format, particularly for programs involving clinical work, teacher preparation or professional licensing.

What is the location of Southern New Hampshire University?

SNHU's residential campus is in Manchester, New Hampshire, near the city's boundary with Hooksett. Manchester is the state's largest city, while the campus has a more self-contained setting than a downtown institution.

Students traveling from farther away can use Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. A car can be useful for some off-campus trips, and first-year students are permitted to register or park one on campus. Online students should not assume that campus facilities or in-person events are available where they live; access depends on the particular service and program.

What is the mission and vision of Southern New Hampshire University?

SNHU describes its mission in terms of widening access to education and using it to transform learners' lives. Its stated priorities include affordability, flexible pathways and support for students whose circumstances do not fit a traditional residential college model.

Those are institutional aims, not evidence that every program is affordable or equally flexible for every student. Prospective students can assess how the mission applies to them by comparing a specific program's schedule, total cost, transfer-credit rules and available support. SNHU is a private, nonprofit university and does not identify itself as a religious institution.