Frequently Asked Questions

Since its original establishment as The Keene Normal School in 1909 and through multiple evolutions since, what is now known as Keene State College has grown to become New Hampshire’s premier public liberal arts college with unique career-ready applied programs to meet workforce needs of the state and region.

The school offers 56 majors leading to bachelor’s degrees; seven more leading to the master’s degrees in both professional programs and the humanities, arts, and sciences; and three postbaccalaureate level certification programs for licensure in critical programs like healthcare and education.

Located in Keene, a city of about 23,000 with a thriving downtown and many successful businesses that cater to the student and faculty populations (and, in turn, depend on them for business) Keene State College also employs more than 150 full- and part-time faculty and approximately 250 full- and part-time staff.

It is one of three schools—along with Plymouth State University and the University of New Hampshire—that make up the University System of New Hampshire (USNH), one of the major drivers of the economy and employment in the state. A recent economic impact study showed that USNH contributed approximately $3.7 billion per year to the state. 

But Keene State College’s value cannot be measured in terms of its economic impact alone. With its library, research facilities, performing arts spaces, outdoor walkways, and historic buildings, KSC has become a central feature of the Monadnock region, drawing visitors and tourists who have no direct connection to the school itself.

College enrollment across the United States has been in a slow decline since 2010, but those trends have begun to accelerate and could soon be made even worse by a “demographic cliff” brought on by a falling birth rate nationwide. New Hampshire and our neighboring states are not immune to these challenges; the number of high school graduates in the Northeast is projected to decline by 8 percent by 2030, while overall K-12 enrollment in New Hampshire alone could drop by as much as 25 percent over the next ten years. 

When paired with rising tuition costs and growing skepticism among high school and college-age young people (and their parents) about the value of a college degree and their employment prospects due in no small part to the advent of Artificial Intelligence, colleges all over the country are facing unprecedented challenges, with some even shuttering their doors.

The challenges facing higher education institutions are NOT just a problem for schools like Keene State College. An entire anxious generation of young people is growing up worried about their prospects of ever being able to earn a living, buy a house, or provide for a family. With limited career opportunities here in New Hampshire, our children and grandchildren won’t be able to stay in New Hampshire. 

As bad as those prospects can appear for those students, they are even worse for businesses that drive our state and local economy, with major employers citing a lack of trained applicants and a shrinking workforce as one of the most important factors when deciding where to set up shop. In the Monadnock region alone, 35 percent of the workforce is expected to retire in the next 7-10 years. But new workers aren’t taking their place; a recent analysis of data for the Monadnock region showed more than 2,000 jobs in healthcare, education, and manufacturing that were unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants.  

And while New Hampshire currently ranks last in the nation in per capita public higher education funding, states like Texas and Florida—two states that share New Hampshire’s policy of no state income tax, but unlike New Hampshire, consistently rank among the highest in the country in terms of investment in public higher education—are regularly cited as the most attractive states in which to do business, leading many companies to relocate there and further exacerbating the negative economic trends in the states they leave behind.

The college and its leaders are working to boost enrollment by investing in new partnerships with New Hampshire employers and making changes to its program offerings to reflect the evolving needs of students and the employers looking to hire them. But we also need lawmakers to stand up for those employers and the thousands of young people trying to build a life in New Hampshire by restoring funding for public higher education and investing in Keene State College’s future.

Keene State College consistently receives recognition as one of the leading public education institutions in the region. In the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings (released in September 2025), Keene State College was ranked #9 in Regional Colleges North, #6 in Best Value Schools, Northeast Region, and #6 in Top Public Schools, Northeast Region.

But Keene State College’s potential to help address the challenges noted above are even clearer when viewed through the lens of a Keene State graduate or any young person considering KSC and eighty-nine percent of Keene State College graduates are employed or pursuing further education by the time they graduate, and 78 percent of KSC graduates are employed in a field related to their major.

Over the past year, the leadership of Keene State—with the full support of members of Citizens for Keene State College—have begun making important changes to the structure, course offerings, and the access they provide to real world job experience through partnerships with New Hampshire businesses. There’s more work to be done, but if we all do our part to promote the growth opportunities at Keene State, we can ensure its place as one of the leading educational institutions in New England.

Simply put, we need to change the narrative around public higher education in New Hampshire. By partnering with businesses and using a diverse mix of stakeholders to highlight the changes Keene State College is making to adapt to current challenges, we hope to remind students and lawmakers that KSC is a critical part of our state’s economic engine, training the next generation of leaders and setting them up for successful, well-paid careers. And for businesses in New Hampshire, our goal is to make it clear that any student they’re lucky enough to get from Keene State College will prove themselves to be invaluable additions to their companies. 

By highlighting career pathways students can begin at KSC and showcasing the emerging public/private partnerships with businesses that will equip students with real-world experience in the jobs of tomorrow, we can promote the long-term economic vitality for the entire state.

No, we are an independent, volunteer-led coalition made up of students, parents, business and non-profit leaders, KSC alumni, retired faculty, and local community members united by our shared goal of promoting and defending KSC so it can continue to provide value to future generations of students and employers in New Hampshire.

Yes! Anyone who is interested in supporting a sustainable future for Keene State College is welcome to join by clicking the “Join Us” link above.

No, we are a nonpartisan, volunteer-led effort and are not affiliated with any political party, candidate, or organization. We will work with anyone—including any elected official or policymaker—who shares our belief that in order to meet the evolving needs of New Hampshire’s employers and the young men and women who want to make a living in our state, we need to invest in the institutions like Keene State College that are creating pathways to greater opportunity.

Not at the moment. Our volunteer coalition is just getting started, but in the months to come, as our strategic investments and tactics continue to take shape, we may have opportunities for people to provide financial support for any expenses related to this effort.

By clicking the “Join Us” link above! You’ll be added to our contact list so we can reach out whenever we have breaking news or meaningful opportunities to engage in our efforts to support and strengthen Keene State College.