New Hampshire Community Colleges
Liberal Arts Programs
Liberal-arts transfer programs at community colleges in this state. English, history, philosophy, and the social sciences for university transfer.
6 colleges · 61 sections · 38 unique courses · Summer 2027 · Updated today
The liberal-arts associate at New Hampshire community colleges is the most common transfer degree in the CCSNH system. It's designed as a complete 2-year general-education foundation — English composition, history, math, lab science, social science, fine arts — that articulates to any four-year university in the state. Students complete two years at community-college tuition rates and arrive at the bachelor's program as juniors with sophomore standing in their declared major.
This term's 61 sections across 6 CCSNH colleges fill those general-education buckets. The right college often comes down to schedule (online availability, evening sections) and proximity rather than program differences — the curriculum is intentionally similar across institutions to keep the transfer guarantee working. Compare colleges below by section count and transfer agreements.
Earnings & outcomes for Liberal Arts graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 2401 — Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Liberal Arts
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Community College | 23 | 11 | 10 | 104 | — |
| NHTI, Concord's Community College | 15 | 8 | 13 | 178 | $43,951 |
| Great Bay Community College | 10 | 8 | 6 | 57 | $51,071 |
| White Mountains Community College | 8 | 6 | 4 | 18 | — |
| River Valley Community College | 3 | 3 | 3 | 17 | $42,091 |
| Lakes Region Community College | 2 | 2 | 2 | 27 | — |
Liberal Arts Availability Snapshot
How liberal arts sections are being offered across 6 colleges in New Hampshire this term (61 sections total).
Delivery format
- online38 (62%)
- in person22 (36%)
- hybrid1 (2%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)12
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)4
- Evening (5 PM and after)9
- Asynchronous / TBA36
Start dates
Sections begin on 7 distinct dates. 17 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 22 distinct instructors across 6 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Great Bay Community College1 program
First Year
15 creditsSpring Semester
17 credits- ENGL 214GIntroduction to Creative Nonfiction(3 cr)1 section
Source: College catalog
Lakes Region Community College1 program
Source: College catalog
White Mountains Community College1 program
First Year, Fall Semester
14 creditsSource: College catalog
Common Liberal Arts courses
- ENGL 101MCollege Composition(4 sections)
- ENGL 101XMEnglish Composition with Corequisite Support(4 sections)
- ENGL 113MIntroduction to Public Speaking(4 sections)
- ENGL 101CEnglish Composition(3 sections)
- ENGL 110GCollege Composition I(3 sections)
- ENGL 120MCCommunications: Mindful(3 sections)
- PHIL 242CContemporary Ethical Issues(3 sections)
- ENGL 101CWCollege Composition Co-Req(2 sections)
- ENGL 101WCollege Composition(2 sections)
- ENGL 120CCommunications(2 sections)
- ENGL 213MCreative Writing(2 sections)
- ENGL 220MAdvanced Composition: Medium Message and Mode(2 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- What is a liberal-arts degree good for?
- Almost exclusively transfer. The liberal-arts AA isn't a career-track degree on its own; it's the first two years of a bachelor's, packaged so you can complete it at much lower tuition before moving to a four-year school. The major you eventually declare at the four-year (English, history, sociology, psychology, business, etc.) determines your career path.
- Will all my liberal-arts credits transfer to a New Hampshire four-year university?
- If you complete the full associate of arts at a CCSNH college, yes — under New Hampshire's statewide articulation agreement, the entire degree transfers as a block to any public four-year, giving you junior standing. Where students lose credits is by taking random courses outside the structured AA pathway. Talk to your transfer advisor early.
- Can I save money by doing my first two years at community college?
- Yes, often substantially. New Hampshire community college tuition is typically less than half what a state university charges, and the credits transfer 1:1 if you stick to the structured AA. Two years of saved tuition often translates to $20–40k less debt at graduation.
- How long does the liberal-arts associate take?
- Two years full-time (60 credits). Many students complete it in three or more years on a part-time schedule — community colleges build their evening, weekend, and online sections around working students.
Compare Liberal Arts programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how New Hampshire’s liberal arts programs stack up.
Other programs in New Hampshire
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.