Colleges in Portsmouth, NH: Great Bay and UNH Degree Pathways

University of New Hampshire

On the New Hampshire Seacoast, two prominent institutions are empowering students to define success completely on their own terms. Great Bay Community College and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) offer an exceptional mix of practical, affordable options and massive academic opportunities.

Today, a growing number of students are thriving by strategically combining the unique strengths of both regional anchors.

Great Bay Community College: Flexible, Affordable Education in Portsmouth

Great Bay Community College serves over 1,800 students annually through its degree and workforce programs. The college stands out among colleges in Portsmouth, NH, by offering more than 60 diverse academic programs, including biotechnology, health care, business and early childhood education. That mix of options at its facility in Pease Tradeport reflects how the college serves both recent high school graduates and adult learners who may be returning to school, changing careers or building new skills while staying rooted on the Seacoast.

A blend of affordability, personalized support and career connections is why students choose Great Bay. Student Elijah Goodhue is enrolled in the surgical technology program and notes that this flexibility makes a difference: “It’s affordable, and professors know you because class sizes are small. It’s easy to manage school and work.”

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Short-Term Workforce Development and Professional Training

While many students enroll in associate degree programs to transfer to four-year colleges, others seek a direct path into the workforce.

“Our Workforce Development programs are short-term and lead to immediate career entry,” says Lynn Szymanski, director of workforce development. At the college’s Business and Training Center, students can prepare for roles in medical assisting, phlebotomy and culinary arts in as little as six to 12 weeks. Great Bay also provides noncredit professional development and customized training for local businesses.

Whether interested in a transfer or a direct-to-career track, students benefit from the range and strength of the college’s programs, the support available on campus, and the flexibility to attend part-time or full-time, depending on other life obligations.

University of New Hampshire

The University of New Hampshire: R1 Research and Global Opportunities

Complementing Great Bay Community College, the University of New Hampshire (UNH) in nearby Durham offers the scale, breadth and experience of a major R1 public research university. With over 11,000 undergraduates, 2,500 graduate students and thousands more enrolled online, UNH provides access to more than 200 programs across a wide range of academic and professional fields. Notably, 53% of students arrive from out of state, making UNH a premier source of in-migration and a vital workforce pipeline.

Beyond its traditional undergraduate degree programs, UNH offers noncredit professional development and training designed to sharpen skills and support regional workforce needs:

• The Lonza Scholars Program: Integrates targeted academic scholarships with professional mentorship to accelerate career pathways in the life sciences.
• Albany International Collaboration: Expands cutting-edge industrial research initiatives and student internship opportunities.

Ultimately, UNH offers an experience that shapes students in lasting ways, such as through campus organizations, community involvement and athletic programs.

University of New Hampshire

Great Bay to UNH Transfer Pathways: A Seamless Route to a Bachelor’s Degree

For students who want to begin close to home and continue to a four-year degree, a partnership between Great Bay and UNH offers a clear path forward. With 50 dedicated transfer pathways, students can easily track how their Great Bay credits pave the way to a bachelor’s degree at UNH.

“Students can start at Great Bay and finish at UNH with confidence that their credits will count,” says Kim DeRego, vice provost of enrollment management at UNH.

At Great Bay, academic and transfer adviser Maggie Duffy- Durkin says that kind of clarity matters from the start: “We make sure you’re in the correct major and taking the right courses to follow the transfer pathway.”

Great Bay has many relationships with baccalaureate institutions, providing those students interested in pursuing bachelor’s degrees with a range of options.

These choices reflect changes in higher education. There is no single route to success, and more students are looking for options that fit their lives and goals. As Duffy-Durkin says, “It’s all about your starting point.”