Saint Joseph's College of Maine vs Maine Maritime Academy: which has better ROI?
Maine Maritime Academy has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $93,656 in 2.3 years versus 10.3 years at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, on median earnings of $89,964 vs $59,045 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | Maine Maritime Academy |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $27,555 | $23,414 |
| Total net cost | $110,220 | $93,656 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $59,045 | $89,964 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 10.3 yrs | 2.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $103,480 | $738,424 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Saint Joseph's College of Maine or Maine Maritime Academy?
Maine Maritime Academy, at $23,414 a year after aid versus $27,555 — a gap of $4,141 a year, or $16,564 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Saint Joseph's College of Maine or Maine Maritime Academy graduates earn more?
Maine Maritime Academy graduates report a median $89,964 ten years after entry, $30,919 more than the $59,045 at Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Saint Joseph's College of Maine or Maine Maritime Academy?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
Which graduates more of its students?
66% of students finish at Saint Joseph's College of Maine, against 58% at Maine Maritime Academy. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.