University of Maine at Farmington vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maine at Farmington comes closer — median earnings $44,433 against a $67,428 total, vs $40,264 at College of the Atlantic. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine at Farmington | College of the Atlantic |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,857 | $25,184 |
| Total net cost | $67,428 | $100,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,433 | $40,264 |
| Median debt | $24,499 | $25,050 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$145,968 | -$262,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Maine at Farmington or College of the Atlantic?
University of Maine at Farmington, at $16,857 a year after aid versus $25,184 — a gap of $8,327 a year, or $33,308 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 Farmington or College of the Atlantic graduates earn more?
University of Maine at Farmington graduates report a median $44,433 ten years after entry, $4,169 more than the $40,264 at College of the Atlantic. 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 Farmington or College of the Atlantic?
University of Maine at Farmington: its completers carry a median $24,499 in federal loans versus $25,050 at College of the Atlantic, a difference of $551. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at College of the Atlantic, against 52% at University of Maine at Farmington. 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.