Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:55
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:UNH and UVM are pretty far apart physically.
Durham NH is a tiny boring town that just exists for the college,l. Burlington is much nicer. And way better skiing, and the lake if you don't mind cold water or just think it's pretty. UNH is closer to Boston if that matters to anyone.
UNH doesn't have the cultural vibe of UVM/Burlington. UVM is more crunchy but also just more interesting. There are more concerts, more restaurants, more engagement with the world. UNH you get your degree, make some friends, and be fratty. For some people the UVM culture is appealing, others dislike it, it just depends.
The towns that exist just for the colleges are far more desirable places to attend college.
The towns centered around rich old boomers or "great places to raise a family" that just happen to have a college located there, suck for college students.
Think of GMU vs JMU.
They are fairly equivalent schools, with GMU ranked higher. JMU is in a town centered on the college. GMU is located in a wealthy boomer/family area adjacent to some great areas, but where the community barely tolerates the students and pushes back forcefully against anything that can be remotely construed as college fun.
Kids love attending JMU and grumble about GMU. JMU is more desired because it is in a college town. GMU is less desired because it's in a community that is centered on wealthy old boomers, and middle aged people with kids.
"Much nicer" is not a draw for college kids.
Yes it is. People get tired of going to the same few restaurants over and over. I'm dating myself but even just spending one summer at UNH I was sick of the Tin Palace and DHOP. Durham is not really a college town in the good sense. It's too small for that. There's also very little shopping so if you need clothes or something it's a hassle.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:51
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:UNH and UVM are pretty far apart physically.
Durham NH is a tiny boring town that just exists for the college,l. Burlington is much nicer. And way better skiing, and the lake if you don't mind cold water or just think it's pretty. UNH is closer to Boston if that matters to anyone.
UNH doesn't have the cultural vibe of UVM/Burlington. UVM is more crunchy but also just more interesting. There are more concerts, more restaurants, more engagement with the world. UNH you get your degree, make some friends, and be fratty. For some people the UVM culture is appealing, others dislike it, it just depends.
The towns that exist just for the colleges are far more desirable places to attend college.
The towns centered around rich old boomers or "great places to raise a family" that just happen to have a college located there, suck for college students.
Think of GMU vs JMU.
They are fairly equivalent schools, with GMU ranked higher. JMU is in a town centered on the college. GMU is located in a wealthy boomer/family area adjacent to some great areas, but where the community barely tolerates the students and pushes back forcefully against anything that can be remotely construed as college fun.
Kids love attending JMU and grumble about GMU. JMU is more desired because it is in a college town. GMU is less desired because it's in a community that is centered on wealthy old boomers, and middle aged people with kids.
"Much nicer" is not a draw for college kids.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:44
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The seniors this year are the peak of the demographic cliff.
It drops off next admissions cycle.
Incorrect. 1/2 of the class of 2026 was born in 2008, which is the first year in the demographic cliff.
You are incorrect.
Actual enrollment numbers at the schools show clearly that class of 2026 is the absolute peak of the cliff.
Class of 2026 is much larger than any class before or after.
And actually, I think class of 2024 is also larger than class of 2025.
Of the three peak years (24/25/26) class of 2025 is the smallest.
I think New England states peaked earlier though.
Probably.
Rich white liberal families have the worst birth rate of any demographic. They are below replacement rates and have been for years. As a group, they simply are not having children.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:38
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Please always look behind the click bait marketing headlines.
Univ of New Hampshire
Enrollment Numbers, Freshman, Full time
2026 2,471 freshman
2025 2,302 freshman
2024 2,605 freshman
2023 2,607 freshman
2022 2,942 freshman
2021 2,795 freshman
2020 2,630 freshman
2019 2,731 freshman
UNH struggles again: another year under 2500 confirms decade-long decline!!
Or
UNH Sees Rays of Hope After Years-Long Decline in Enrollment
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:30
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The seniors this year are the peak of the demographic cliff.
It drops off next admissions cycle.
Incorrect. 1/2 of the class of 2026 was born in 2008, which is the first year in the demographic cliff.
You are incorrect.
Actual enrollment numbers at the schools show clearly that class of 2026 is the absolute peak of the cliff.
Class of 2026 is much larger than any class before or after.
And actually, I think class of 2024 is also larger than class of 2025.
Of the three peak years (24/25/26) class of 2025 is the smallest.
I think New England states peaked earlier though.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:30
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
UNH and UVM are pretty far apart physically.
Durham NH is a tiny boring town that just exists for the college,l. Burlington is much nicer. And way better skiing, and the lake if you don't mind cold water or just think it's pretty. UNH is closer to Boston if that matters to anyone.
UNH doesn't have the cultural vibe of UVM/Burlington. UVM is more crunchy but also just more interesting. There are more concerts, more restaurants, more engagement with the world. UNH you get your degree, make some friends, and be fratty. For some people the UVM culture is appealing, others dislike it, it just depends.
Durham NH is a tiny boring town that just exists for the college,l. Burlington is much nicer. And way better skiing, and the lake if you don't mind cold water or just think it's pretty. UNH is closer to Boston if that matters to anyone.
UNH doesn't have the cultural vibe of UVM/Burlington. UVM is more crunchy but also just more interesting. There are more concerts, more restaurants, more engagement with the world. UNH you get your degree, make some friends, and be fratty. For some people the UVM culture is appealing, others dislike it, it just depends.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:19
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The seniors this year are the peak of the demographic cliff.
It drops off next admissions cycle.
Incorrect. 1/2 of the class of 2026 was born in 2008, which is the first year in the demographic cliff.
You are incorrect.
Actual enrollment numbers at the schools show clearly that class of 2026 is the absolute peak of the cliff.
Class of 2026 is much larger than any class before or after.
And actually, I think class of 2024 is also larger than class of 2025.
Of the three peak years (24/25/26) class of 2025 is the smallest.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 08:15
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Please always look behind the click bait marketing headlines.
Univ of New Hampshire
Enrollment Numbers, Freshman, Full time
2026 2,471 freshman
2025 2,302 freshman
2024 2,605 freshman
2023 2,607 freshman
2022 2,942 freshman
2021 2,795 freshman
2020 2,630 freshman
2019 2,731 freshman
It also should be noted that the 2,471 figure touted by UNH includes those who have only put down a deposit, not the actual number who will show up. The fee is pretty hefty-$600- so it would be a pricey move not to enroll but most data shows historically 5% at UNH pay the deposit and don't show up.
If that happens, UNH is looking at a small increase of 60 students versus prior year, around 2,375 students. Well below what the average of the past decade.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 07:59
Subject: UNH sees 4% first-year enrollment spike despite 'demographic cliff'
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:The seniors this year are the peak of the demographic cliff.
It drops off next admissions cycle.
Incorrect. 1/2 of the class of 2026 was born in 2008, which is the first year in the demographic cliff.
Depends on school cut off dates which vary by state