Best colleges in Maine, ranked by ROI

Name: Maine colleges — cost, earnings and ROI rankings
Creator: Degree Dividend

By the Degree Dividend editorial data teamEvery figure verified against its federal source — methodologyData updated June 2026

We rank all 27 Maine institutions we profile by payback years — total net cost divided by earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The state's median net price is $17,180/yr (above the $16,902 national median), and its graduates earn a median $44,433 ten years out (above the $43,549 national median). Bowdoin College leads, clearing its cost in 1.7 years. (Scorecard, 2026.)

$17,180

Median net price / yr

Scorecard, 2026

$44,433

Median earnings, 10 yrs

Scorecard, 2026

8 yrs

Median payback

Our math, 2026

Colleges ranked

degreedividend.com

Maine colleges by payback (best first)

#	College	Net price/yr	Earnings 10y	Payback
1	Bowdoin College	$14,398	$82,735	1.7 yrs
2	Maine College of Health Professions	$26,312	$79,840	1.7 yrs
3	Colby College	$17,180	$80,490	2.1 yrs
4	Maine Maritime Academy	$23,414	$89,964	2.3 yrs
5	Bates College	$29,351	$69,498	5.6 yrs
6	Saint Joseph's College of Maine	$27,555	$59,045	10.3 yrs
7	University of Maine at Fort Kent	$7,482	$51,077	11 yrs
8	University of New England	$38,107	$55,921	20.2 yrs
9	University of Southern Maine	$13,596	$49,958	34 yrs
10	University of Maine	$17,510	$48,653	239 yrs
11	York County Community College	$5,875	$44,873	no payback
12	Northern Maine Community College	$7,181	$43,348	no payback
13	Central Maine Community College	$6,975	$42,448	no payback
14	Thomas College	$18,885	$44,991	no payback
15	University of Maine at Farmington	$16,857	$44,433	no payback
16	Husson University	$21,005	$45,025	no payback
17	Eastern Maine Community College	$8,928	$41,704	no payback
18	Southern Maine Community College	$11,086	$41,661	no payback
19	University of Maine at Presque Isle	$7,035	$40,956	no payback
20	University of Maine at Augusta	$10,924	$40,342	no payback
21	Kennebec Valley Community College	$3,910	$36,035	no payback
22	College of the Atlantic	$25,184	$40,264	no payback
23	Unity Environmental University	$19,104	$37,852	no payback
24	Washington County Community College	$5,149	$34,407	no payback
25	Maine College of Art & Design	$38,338	$40,778	no payback
26	Beal University	$40,109	$35,639	no payback
27	Spa Tech Institute-Westbrook	$29,953	$27,803	no payback

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · ranking and payback are our math. Payback uses institution-wide earnings; a specific major can rank very differently.

Colleges in Maine: frequently asked questions

Which college has the best ROI in Maine?

Bowdoin College. It charges $14,398/yr after aid and its graduates earn a median $82,735 ten years out, clearing the cost in about 1.7 years — the fastest payback of the 27 Maine colleges we track.

How much does college cost in Maine?

The median net price across Maine colleges is $17,180/yr after grants and scholarships — above the $16,902 national median. That is the actual price the typical aided student pays, not the published sticker.

What do Maine college graduates earn?

A median $44,433 ten years after entry (Scorecard), above the $43,549 national median. Earnings vary widely by school and major — see each college's profile for its own figure.

How many Maine colleges pay for themselves?

10 of the 27 Maine colleges we track clear their cost on institution-wide earnings above the high-school baseline. The rest need a high-ROI major to pay off — the school average alone does not.