The best college dorms in New Hampshire for 2027 offer a mix of halls, strong amenities, and a clear path from first-year housing to apartments. This guide covers 10 New Hampshire schools, from small residential colleges like Colby-Sawyer and Saint Anselm to larger campuses like the University of New Hampshire and Southern New Hampshire University.
This guide follows the University Magazine ranking list for New Hampshire and uses the published University Magazine rankings methodology for institution-level context. Each section summarizes housing details from the school’s own pages so you can compare halls, room types, and requirements before you apply. For more state guides, browse our best dorm rankings and broader university rankings.
The Best College Dorms in New Hampshire 2027
1. Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester houses its campus students in Kingston, New Castle, Tuckerman, Washington, Windsor, and Hampton Halls, mostly in newly renovated singles and doubles with communal bathrooms. Kingston Hall opened in 2018 with 382 beds, a first-floor open kitchen, study spaces, and rooms designed for students with autism.
Monadnock Hall, opened in 2017, offers apartment-style two- and four-bedroom units for about 300 students, each with a private bathroom and kitchen. Hampton Hall offers suites with two singles and two doubles, a pool-table lounge, and free laundry. See SNHU residence halls.
2. Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College in Hanover groups its residence halls into six House Communities: Allen, East Wheelock, North Park, School, South, and West. More than 3,300 students live on campus, and each community has a full-time, live-in assistant director. First-year students must live on campus, and sophomores who apply on time are guaranteed housing.
Room types range from singles and doubles to two- and three-room doubles, triples, quads, suites, and three- and four-bedroom apartments. Upperclass options include Living Learning Communities, Senior Apartments, and Greek or society houses. About 88-90 percent of undergraduates live on campus. See Dartmouth housing overview.
3. University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire in Durham has 25 residence halls offering singles, doubles, triples, and quads. Some halls are first-year only, some are second-year only, and others serve upper-division or mixed classes. Traditional halls share bathrooms, while suites have semi-private ones.
Themed options include Gibbs, which focuses on sports and wellness, Fairchild, which houses the Honors and International Connections communities, and Engelhardt, a substance-free hall. Adams Tower West is an all-sophomore suite building, Stoke is the largest hall, and Hetzel reopens after a full renovation. See UNH residence halls.
4. Rivier University
Rivier University in Nashua offers five housing options. Guild Hall houses 170 mostly first-year students in doubles and triples, while Trinity Hall houses 110 sophomores through seniors with kitchenettes on every floor. Presentation Hall has 12 two-bedroom suites, each with a full bathroom.
Brassard Hall houses 120 students in suites with two bathrooms and a kitchenette. Rivier Village, opened in 2024, houses 150 upper-level students in four-person apartments with two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and an in-unit washer and dryer. Laundry is free, and Wi-Fi is available in all halls. See Rivier residence halls.
5. Keene State College
Keene State College lists ten housing options: Carle, Fiske, Holloway, Huntress, The Commons, One Butler Court, Owl’s Nest, and the Pondside 1, 2, and 3 apartments. Each has its own page with floor plans, so students can compare layouts hall by hall.
The college says residence hall living offers freedom to choose a lifestyle but requires considerable personal responsibility, with trained staff living in the halls, plus programs and leadership opportunities for residents. Keene State has also planned a new 137-bed student housing facility, so check which halls are current. See Keene State residence halls.
6. Colby-Sawyer College
Colby-Sawyer College in New London houses first-year students in Best, Lawson, and Colby Halls, all mixed-gender, with same-gender roommates. Returning students choose among Abbey, Burpee, Danforth, Rooke, and Shepard Halls, from community-style halls to independent living in the college houses.
Full-time undergraduates whose families are not local must live on campus. McKean Hall and Colby Homestead serve graduate students. Each hall lists room types and amenities, so check the Colby-Sawyer residence halls before you apply.
7. Saint Anselm College
Saint Anselm College in Goffstown houses first-year students in traditional halls: Dominic for first-year and transfer men, Joan of Arc and Alumni Streets for first-year women, and Joseph for first-year and upperclass women. Joseph was recently renovated and has an elevator and central air conditioning.
Rooms include extra-long twin beds, closets, desks, and chairs. Most floors share a communal bathroom and have a common room with a TV and kitchenette, and Dominic has a lower-level recreation space with billiards and ping pong. See Saint Anselm first-year halls.
8. New England College
New England College in Henniker offers 13 co-ed residence halls and houses. Connor Hall is first-year only, Contoocook House is upper-class apartments, and East Hall is the only hall with climate-controlled heating and cooling. Charter Hall has deluxe singles and a coffeehouse, and Union Hall offers theme suites that students apply for each spring.
Standard rooms include a twin XL bed, desk, chair, dresser, and closet with Wi-Fi. All halls are co-ed, smoke-free, and substance-free, and housing is subject to availability. Sanborn House is a former farmhouse with an off-campus feel. See New England College housing.
9. Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University requires full-time matriculated students to live on campus if space is available, with release for students who turn 21 by September 1, 2026, or complete 64 credits. First-year students live in traditional halls: Belknap, Blair, Geneva Smith, Grafton, Pemigewasset, and select Mary Lyon rooms, as part of the First-Year Residential Experience.
Upper-division students choose Merrill Place and Langdon Woods, which offer rooms with private bathrooms, or the Nontraditional and White Mountain Apartments in layouts up to four bedrooms. Room types include singles, doubles, triples, and quads. See Plymouth State housing FAQ.
10. Franklin Pierce University
Franklin Pierce University in Rindge houses students by class level, with first-year, sophomore, junior, and senior students living separately to build community among peers at the same standing. Two types of staff support students as they adjust to college life.
The university’s overview page doesn’t list individual halls, room types, or live-on rules, so use the class-specific housing pages and the Student Handbook for those details. Housing preference questionnaires and contracts are on the Franklin Pierce residence life forms page.
Housing rates, hall closures, and requirements change each year, so check each school’s housing office before you apply. Use this list to narrow your options, then compare halls, room types, and costs on the official pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best college dorms in New Hampshire for 2027?
Southern New Hampshire University, Dartmouth College, and the University of New Hampshire lead this University Magazine list for 2027, followed by Rivier, Keene State, and Colby-Sawyer. All 10 schools are ranked below with housing details from official sources.
Which New Hampshire colleges require students to live on campus?
Dartmouth requires first-year students to live on campus, Plymouth State requires full-time students to live on campus if space is available, and Colby-Sawyer requires full-time undergraduates whose families are not local to live on campus.
Which New Hampshire school has the largest number of residence halls?
The University of New Hampshire has 25 residence halls offering singles, doubles, triples, and quads, with first-year, second-year, upper-division, and themed options.
Which New Hampshire schools have new residence halls?
Rivier opened Rivier Village in 2024 with four-person apartments, and Southern New Hampshire University opened Kingston Hall in 2018 with 382 beds.
Which New Hampshire schools offer apartment-style housing?
Rivier, Dartmouth, Plymouth State, New England College, and Southern New Hampshire University all offer apartment-style options, mostly for upperclassmen.
Top 10 Best College Dorms in New Hampshire 2027: Ranked List
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Dartmouth College
- University of New Hampshire
- Rivier University
- Keene State College
- Colby-Sawyer College
- Saint Anselm College
- New England College
- Plymouth State University
- Franklin Pierce University
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