DURHAM, N.H. – Thanks to the success of its ongoing fundraising efforts, the University of New Hampshire is launching a new program in the fall that guarantees all full-time, first-year New Hampshire students receiving federal Pell grants will pay no tuition to attend the university.

Early estimates show that UNH’s Granite Guarantee will help 285 first-year students studying on the Durham and Manchester campuses. First-year New Hampshire students who receive federal Pell grants in their UNH financial aid awards will automatically receive the Granite Guarantee. The commitment remains in place for four years, provided the student is enrolled full-time, remains Pell eligible and makes satisfactory progress toward their degree.

UNH’s total commitment to low-income New Hampshire students is significant. The new program bridges the gap between UNH in-state tuition and the student’s Pell grant, making UNH tuition-free for students who qualify for the Granite Guarantee.

“UNH’s Granite Guarantee allows us to remove more of the financial barriers to higher education that many New Hampshire families face,” said UNH President Mark Huddleston. “This new program demonstrates our strong commitment to ensuring a UNH education is affordable and accessible to New Hampshire’s best and brightest.”

Huddleston noted that the success of Celebrate 150, UNH’s largest-ever fundraising campaign, made it possible to launch the first year of the program. Student support and scholarships are a top priority of the overall $275 million campaign, scheduled to end in 2018.

“UNH’s Granite Guarantee lends opportunities for low-income New Hampshire students to seek higher education and explore workforce pathways that may not have otherwise seemed possible,” said Governor Chris Sununu. “I applaud the University of New Hampshire for this game-changing opportunity for some of New Hampshire’s most high-need students.”

No separate application is needed for UNH’s Granite Guarantee. Students simply apply for admission to UNH and apply for financial aid through the existing procedures. The admission application deadline for first-year students for this fall is March 1. To make a donation to the Granite Guarantee.