Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Keene State College #907 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keene State College in the 28.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Keene State College #430 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Keene State College #907 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Keene, NH, Keene State College enrolls roughly 2,699 undergraduates. Retention is 78.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 60.1%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional public institution. Where Keene State College performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Keene State College #1020 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,191. The institution's strength in Engineering Technology and related technical fields drives solid early-career outcomes that place graduates on a stable financial trajectory relative to the no-degree baseline of $38,923 in NH. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Keene State College sits in the 30.6 percentile for access and the 45.6 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 26.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.0% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial and family-education barriers. Mobility outcomes sit in the 71.1 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve solid earnings, the institution's outcomes for low-income students and upward-mobility patterns trail those of higher-ranked peers. For families weighing affordability and long-term debt service, Financial GPS tool provides personalized scenario modeling by major and earnings pathway.
Keene State College's published cost of attendance is $29,993. Net price by income band shows modest variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $12,192, middle-income families pay around $16,045, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,928. Azimuth ranks Keene State College #776 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. As a public regional university, Keene State College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's affordability position reflects both its public-tuition structure and the aid available to students across income levels. Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA; additional institutional aid may be available through merit or need-based scholarships. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,749, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,874; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,191, median federal debt of $25,749 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Keene State College is a strong fit for students interested in engineering technology and applied fields who want a public university experience in Keene, NH. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,191, placing Keene State College in the 33.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $7,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keene State College in the 28.9 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.0% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Keene State College in the 31.8 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Keene State College's program portfolio is concentrated in Engineering Technology — students interested in these fields will find strong outcomes aligned with New Hampshire's labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Keene State College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Keene State College's published cost of attendance is $29,993. Net price by income band shows modest variation across the income spectrum: low-income families pay approximately $12,192, middle-income families pay around $16,045, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,928.
Azimuth ranks Keene State College #776 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
As a public regional university, Keene State College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. The institution's affordability position reflects both its public-tuition structure and the aid available to students across income levels.
Families applying for need-based aid use the FAFSA; additional institutional aid may be available through merit or need-based scholarships. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,749, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $37,874; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,191, median federal debt of $25,749 projects to a monthly payment of about $291 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Keene State College earn median 4-year earnings of $58,191, placing Keene State College in the 33.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $7,103 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Keene State College in the 28.9 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Keene State College #1020 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Keene State College's concentration in applied and technical fields.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians is the largest program with 72 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $87,710, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 66 students earning $51,904 four years after enrollment, while Business Administration and Teacher Education round out the top programs with four-year earnings of $69,674 and $48,940 respectively.
The dominance of Engineering Technology — representing a substantial share of the institution's degree output — anchors the earnings profile and contributes to the college's competitive positioning in the regional labor market.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of South Carolina Beaufort Similar quality tier (#27072 ranked) | SC | 73% | $48,088 | #27072 | Compare |
Plymouth State University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#28135 ranked) | NH | 88% | $57,304 | #28135 | Compare |
Concord University Similar quality tier (#28138 ranked) | WV | 93% | $42,703 | #28138 | Compare |
Christopher Newport University Similar quality tier (#28143 ranked) | VA | 86% | $60,509 | #28143 | Compare |
Kentucky State University Similar quality tier (#28148 ranked) | KY | 96% | $36,382 | #28148 | Compare |
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians
72 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
24 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
9 graduates
Biology, General
23 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
61 graduates
Keene State College's program mix is anchored in applied technical and engineering fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a comprehensive public college. Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians is the largest program with 72 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Business Administration, Teacher Education, and Criminal Justice.
The dominant program family, Engineering Technology, represents a significant share of the institution's degree output across 37 programs. The highest-earning programs at Keene State College cluster in technical and applied fields.
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians leads with median earnings of $87,710 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $69,674, Communication and Media Studies at $63,995, Architecture at $61,304, and Criminal Justice at $53,291. These programs reflect strong labor-market alignment in fields where employers actively recruit and compensation reflects technical skill and regional demand.
Keene State College positions itself as a practical, career-focused institution where program choice directly connects to workforce outcomes. The concentration in Engineering Technology and related applied disciplines means graduates enter fields with stable hiring demand and clear advancement pathways.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
