BY MICA STARK
At a recent press conference organized by the Business & Industry Association and the New Hampshire College & University Council, Edwin Gutierrez-Nunez, a sophomore at Franklin Pierce University, shared a simple truth: Without the UNIQUE scholarship, he wouldn’t be in college.
“I’m the first in my family to go to college, and I hope not the last,” Edwin told the audience. “My parents clean doctors’ offices and hospitals for a living, and my dad works a second job. But without scholarships like UNIQUE, my younger siblings may not have the same chance.”
His story should stop us in our tracks. Edwin is exactly the kind of student New Hampshire needs: driven, talented and committed to building a better life. Yet right now, the budget passed by the NH House includes significant cuts to the UNIQUE Scholarship program — the only scholarship program that supports low- and middle-income New Hampshire students attending both public and private colleges in NH.
The New Hampshire House passed a budget blueprint that would remove $30 million dollars from this scholarship fund, dramatically reducing the number of individuals who may qualify for this financial support.
The UNIQUE Scholarship Program is overseen by the state’s College Tuition Savings Plan Advisory Commission and administered through the state treasury. It does not rely on general fund or taxpayer dollars — instead, it is supported by investment fees generated through New Hampshire’s 529 college savings plans.
This dedicated funding stream was created to expand access to higher education for financially disadvantaged New Hampshire students. It should remain fully protected and focused on that mission — not diverted to balance the state budget.
Higher education in New Hampshire is at a tipping point. Beyond cuts to UNIQUE, the House budget significantly underfunds the University System of New Hampshire (USNH) and includes a modest reduction for the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), falling short of the governor’s recommended levels. These are not abstract numbers. These are missed opportunities for students, for families and for the state’s long-term economic future.
Higher education drives our economy and provides the young talent our aging state needs. These institutions are talent engines and economic anchors. According to a new economic impact study, higher education contributes a staggering $7.6 billion annually to New Hampshire’s economy and supports nearly 52,000 jobs across the state.
This isn’t just about today’s economy; it’s about tomorrow’s workforce. New Hampshire’s demographic challenges are well known: an aging population, a shrinking pipeline of young workers, and an urgent need to attract and retain talent. We have a rapidly aging workforce, and although ours is repeatedly recognized as one of the best states in the nation for quality of life, we face stiff competition from neighboring states to attract, equip and retain our young workers.
Our colleges and universities are uniquely positioned to address all three by educating in-state students, attracting out-of-state talent and building the kind of communities where young people want to stay. But they can’t do that work if they’re underfunded. When we underinvest in public higher education and cut scholarships, students like Edwin feel the effects immediately.
This is a moment for courage and clarity. New Hampshire must invest in its future by protecting the UNIQUE Scholarship program and restoring the funds cut by the House for USNH and CCSNH, setting them back at Gov. Ayotte’s recommended levels.
We cannot say we support workforce development, economic growth and educational opportunity and then turn around and undermine the very institutions that make those goals possible.
Edwin closed his remarks with a heartfelt plea: “I hope you all listen with your heart and keep in mind the countless sacrifices our families have made to keep us pursuing our education with the help of scholarships.”
Let’s listen. And let’s act.
Mica Stark is president and CEO of the New Hampshire College & University Council.
