The cost of college in Maine — and what it pays back
Across the 27 Maine institutions we profile, the median net price — what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — is $17,180/yr, $278 above the $16,902 national median. Graduates earn a median $44,433 ten years after entry (above the $43,549 national median), and 10 of the 27 schools clear their full cost on institution-wide earnings. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
How Maine's 27 colleges split by ROI verdict
Verdicts: payback under 5 / 10 / 20 / over 20 years (or none).
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin College | $14,398 | $82,735 | 1.7 yrs |
| Maine College of Health Professions | $26,312 | $79,840 | 1.7 yrs |
| Colby College | $17,180 | $80,490 | 2.1 yrs |
| Maine Maritime Academy | $23,414 | $89,964 | 2.3 yrs |
| Bates College | $29,351 | $69,498 | 5.6 yrs |
| College | Net price/yr | Earnings 10y | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kennebec Valley Community College | $3,910 | $36,035 | no payback |
| Washington County Community College | $5,149 | $34,407 | no payback |
| York County Community College | $5,875 | $44,873 | no payback |
| Central Maine Community College | $6,975 | $42,448 | no payback |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | $7,035 | $40,956 | no payback |
How many Maine colleges actually pay for themselves?
10 of 27 — 37% of the Maine institutions we profile clear their full net cost on institution-wide earnings above the $48,360 high-school baseline. The rest need a high-paying major to pay off; the school average alone does not do it.
Do Maine graduates out-earn the national median?
Maine graduates report a median $44,433 ten years after entry, $885 above the $43,549 national median. Earnings track the local labour market and the mix of fields the state's colleges graduate, not the state border itself.