University of Maine at Augusta vs Eastern Maine Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Eastern Maine Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,704 against a $17,856 total, vs $40,342 at University of Maine at Augusta. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine at Augusta | Eastern Maine Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,924 | $8,928 |
| Total net cost | $43,696 | $17,856 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,342 | $41,704 |
| Median debt | $22,734 | $11,293 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$204,056 | -$150,976 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Maine at Augusta or Eastern Maine Community College?
Eastern Maine Community College, at $8,928 a year after aid versus $10,924 — a gap of $1,996 a year, or $25,840 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do University of Maine at Augusta or Eastern Maine Community College graduates earn more?
Eastern Maine Community College graduates report a median $41,704 ten years after entry, $1,362 more than the $40,342 at University of Maine at Augusta. 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, University of Maine at Augusta or Eastern Maine Community College?
Eastern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $11,293 in federal loans versus $22,734 at University of Maine at Augusta, a difference of $11,441. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
32% of students finish at Eastern Maine Community College, against 27% at University of Maine at Augusta. 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.