Franklin Pierce University

Franklin Pierce offers a career-focused liberal arts education, with standout programs in health sciences (53% of majors), business (21%), and sport management (21%). The 13:1 student-faculty ratio supports close mentorship, though the 73% freshman retention rate (below the national average) hints at academic fit challenges. The university is organized into three colleges: Business, Health & Natural Sciences, and Liberal Arts & Social Sciences. Nursing graduates report a median salary of $53,353, one of the strongest outcomes.

• Top majors: Health services, business, sport management, psychology, accounting
• Student-faculty ratio: 13:1
• Freshman retention rate: 73%
• Nursing grad median salary: $53,353

Life at Franklin Pierce revolves around its 1,000-acre rural campus, where outdoor activities and intramural sports thrive. Alumni nostalgically recall legendary condo parties and outdoor bashes, though current students describe the vibe as 'welcoming, loving, and personable.' The university leans into its small size with co-curricular programming that includes leadership development and Greek life. A STEP Days orientation program helps ease the transition to college—a notable effort given the retention challenges.

• Campus size: 1,000 acres
• Notable tradition: Outdoor and condo parties (per alumni)
• Student orgs: Leadership groups, Greek life, intramurals

Franklin Pierce struggles with graduation rates: just 49% of students finish within 6 years (below the 59% national midpoint), though its 46% on-time graduation rate outperforms the 33.3% national average. Alumni generate $165.7M in economic output for New Hampshire and support 881 jobs, a notable regional impact. The university doesn't publish detailed salary data beyond nursing, but its Pell Grant recipient graduation rate (41%) suggests mixed outcomes for lower-income students.

• 6-year grad rate: 49%
• On-time grad rate: 46%
• Economic impact: $165.7M annually
• Jobs supported: 881

At $25,557 net price (after aid), Franklin Pierce costs more than the national average for private colleges, but 79% of students receive financial aid with an average package of $35,991. Merit scholarships range from $32,000–$37,500, heavily discounting the $46,442 sticker price for strong students. The university offers athletic scholarships and emphasizes that most students qualify for some aid—critical given the modest post-grad earnings in many fields.

• Net price: $25,557
• % receiving aid: 79%
• Avg. aid package: $35,991
• Merit awards: Up to $37,500

Franklin Pierce delivers two things exceptionally well: hands-on health sciences training (especially nursing) and a close-knit, outdoorsy community in a stunning rural setting. Its economic impact belies its small size, and the lack of application fee makes it easy to apply. But the university’s low graduation rate and middling retention signal that it’s best for highly motivated students who’ll leverage its strengths—like the 1,000-acre campus for recreation and personalized attention from faculty—to persist and graduate.