University of Maine at Presque Isle vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maine at Presque Isle comes closer — median earnings $40,956 against a $28,140 total, vs $40,264 at College of the Atlantic. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine at Presque Isle | College of the Atlantic |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,035 | $25,184 |
| Total net cost | $28,140 | $100,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,956 | $40,264 |
| Median debt | $16,000 | $25,050 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$176,220 | -$262,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, University of Maine at Presque Isle or College of the Atlantic?
University of Maine at Presque Isle, at $7,035 a year after aid versus $25,184 — a gap of $18,149 a year, or $72,596 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 Presque Isle or College of the Atlantic graduates earn more?
University of Maine at Presque Isle graduates report a median $40,956 ten years after entry, $692 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 Presque Isle or College of the Atlantic?
University of Maine at Presque Isle: its completers carry a median $16,000 in federal loans versus $25,050 at College of the Atlantic, a difference of $9,050. 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 Presque Isle. 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.