Best Online Nursing Programs in Manchester, NH (2026)

Manchester, New Hampshire has a population of about 115,415. The city’s median household income is $77,415 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 33.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited nursing programs within 100 miles of Manchester, with tuition ranging from $37,791 to $50,999 per year. In the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area, the top-earning nursing-related role is Nurse Anesthetist at a median $214,260 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Nursing Schools to Manchester

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer nursing programs. Distances are calculated from Manchester city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
Harmony Health Care InstituteMerrimack, NH12.7 miContact school for pricing
Rivier UniversityNashua, NH17.0 mi$37,791 - $50,999
Greater Lowell Technical SchoolTyngsboro, MA22.1 miContact school for pricing
Northern Essex Community CollegeHaverhill, MA23.9 miContact school for pricing
University of New Hampshire-Main CampusDurham, NH28.1 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all New Hampshire schools on the New Hampshire nursing page.


Nursing Wages Near Manchester

Manchester is part of the Manchester-Nashua, NH metro area (BLS area code 31700). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to New Hampshire statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Registered Nurse$87,210Manchester-Nashua, NH$82,507
Licensed Practical Nurse$71,500Manchester-Nashua, NH$67,644
Nurse Anesthetist$214,260Manchester-Nashua, NH$202,706
Nurse Midwife$135,860NH statewide$128,534
Nurse Practitioner$133,510Manchester-Nashua, NH$126,310
Nursing Assistant$45,720Manchester-Nashua, NH$43,254

Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.


Manchester at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population115,415Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$77,415Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+33.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)105.7 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Nursing-related employment in Hillsborough County14,683 workers, 145 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Manchester-Area Cities With Nursing Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited nursing programs are near Manchester, NH?

Our directory lists 5 nursing programs within 100 miles of Manchester. The closest is Harmony Health Care Institute in Merrimack, NH (12.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is University of New Hampshire-Main Campus (28.1 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying nursing roles near Manchester?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying nursing-related roles near Manchester are: Nurse Anesthetist ($214,260), Nurse Midwife ($135,860), Nurse Practitioner ($133,510). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with New Hampshire statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Nashua instead of Manchester?

Nashua, NH is 16.4 miles from Manchester and has its own set of local nursing programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Manchester an affordable place to study nursing?

Manchester’s median household income of $77,415 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Manchester while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and New Hampshire public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.

How do I verify a program is accredited?

Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.