New Hampshire Institute of Art

Manchester, New Hampshire, United States · Est. 1898 · Art & Design School

Former private art school in Manchester, New Hampshire, merged with New England College in 2019 and closed in 2023.

  • Founded in 1898 as Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences
  • Private art school accredited by NASAD (2001) and NEASC (2011)
  • Offered BFA, MFA, and MAT degrees with ~506 students at peak
  • Located in Manchester Cultural District with 11 buildings across Manchester, Sharon, and Peterborough
  • Merged with New England College in 2019; Manchester campus closed in 2023
  • Notable endowment of $24.9 million (2014) from Mary Fuller Russell bequest

Academics

NHIA offered accredited undergraduate and graduate programs including Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching, and a combined BFA/MAT dual degree. The institution introduced new programs in Comic Arts, Printmaking, User Experience (UX) Design, and Creative Placemaking. A low-residency MFA program was established in Sharon and Peterborough in 2013 following a merger with the Sharon Arts Center.

Campus & Facilities

The campus occupied eleven buildings across Manchester, Sharon, and Peterborough. Key facilities included French Hall (1916, housing admissions and fine arts), Fuller Hall (photography and Teti Library), Williams Hall (ceramics and foundations), and Lowell Hall (residence and academic space). The campus was situated within Manchester's Cultural District, a six-block historic area with buildings designed by noted architects William Rantoul and Edward Tilton.

History & Mergers

Founded in 1898, NHIA expanded significantly after receiving a $24 million bequest in the late 1990s from Mary Fuller Russell's estate. Enrollment grew to over 500 students by 2012 under President Roger Williams. In 2012, over 80% of Chester College of New England's student body transferred to NHIA. The institution merged with New England College in 2019 and became its Manchester campus, which was subsequently closed in 2023.

Founded
1898
Type
Art & Design School
Courses
9
Total intake
Not yet verified
AffiliationNHCUC (New Hampshire Colleges and Universities Council)
Websitehttp://iad.nec.edu/
HousingNot available
Some details are still being verified.

Quick stats

Courses offered
9
Avg career outcomes
Not yet verified
Total intake
Not yet verified
Housing
No
Data last verified June 2026 · compiled from official sources