Ranking

Best Colleges in Maine by ROI 2026

The top-value Maine colleges — graduate earnings against net price, from federal data.

Schools ranked: 25
Cheapest net price: $3,910
Top earnings 10y: $89,964
Public / Private: 13 / 11

Kennebec Valley Community College

A+

Fairfield, ME · Public

ROI score: 23.04
Net price: $3,910
Earnings 10y: $36,035
Acceptance: Open / not reported

York County Community College

A+

Wells, ME · Public

ROI score: 19.09
Net price: $5,875
Earnings 10y: $44,873
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Maine at Fort Kent

A+

Fort Kent, ME · Public

ROI score: 17.07
Net price: $7,482
Earnings 10y: $51,077
Acceptance: 97.9%

Central Maine Community College

Auburn, ME · Public

ROI score: 15.21
Net price: $6,975
Earnings 10y: $42,448
Acceptance: Open / not reported

Northern Maine Community College

Presque Isle, ME · Public

ROI score: 15.09
Net price: $7,181
Earnings 10y: $43,348
Acceptance: Open / not reported

University of Maine at Presque Isle

Presque Isle, ME · Public

ROI score: 14.55
Net price: $7,035
Earnings 10y: $40,956
Acceptance: 99.9%

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 14.37
Net price: $14,398
Earnings 10y: $82,735
Acceptance: 7.1%

Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 11.71
Net price: $17,180
Earnings 10y: $80,490
Acceptance: 7.1%

Eastern Maine Community College

Bangor, ME · Public

ROI score: 11.68
Net price: $8,928
Earnings 10y: $41,704
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#10

Maine Maritime Academy

Castine, ME · Public

ROI score: 9.61
Net price: $23,414
Earnings 10y: $89,964
Acceptance: 54.1%

#11

Southern Maine Community College

South Portland, ME · Public

ROI score: 9.39
Net price: $11,086
Earnings 10y: $41,661
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#12

University of Maine at Augusta

Augusta, ME · Public

ROI score: 9.23
Net price: $10,924
Earnings 10y: $40,342
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#13

University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public

ROI score: 9.19
Net price: $13,596
Earnings 10y: $49,958
Acceptance: 79.2%

#14

Maine College of Health Professions

Lewiston, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 7.59
Net price: $26,312
Earnings 10y: $79,840
Acceptance: 71.4%

#15

University of Maine

Orono, ME · Public

ROI score: 6.95
Net price: $17,510
Earnings 10y: $48,653
Acceptance: 96.6%

#16

University of Maine at Farmington

Farmington, ME · Public

ROI score: 6.59
Net price: $16,857
Earnings 10y: $44,433
Acceptance: 96.7%

#17

Thomas College

Waterville, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.96
Net price: $18,885
Earnings 10y: $44,991
Acceptance: 96.3%

#18

Bates College

Lewiston, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.92
Net price: $29,351
Earnings 10y: $69,498
Acceptance: 13.3%

#19

Husson University

Bangor, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.36
Net price: $21,005
Earnings 10y: $45,025
Acceptance: 81%

#20

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 5.36
Net price: $27,555
Earnings 10y: $59,045
Acceptance: 83.5%

#21

Unity Environmental University

New Gloucester, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.95
Net price: $19,104
Earnings 10y: $37,852
Acceptance: Open / not reported

#22

College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 4.00
Net price: $25,184
Earnings 10y: $40,264
Acceptance: 70.2%

#23

University of New England

Biddeford, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 3.67
Net price: $38,107
Earnings 10y: $55,921
Acceptance: 91.6%

#24

Maine College of Art & Design

Portland, ME · Private Non-Profit

ROI score: 2.66
Net price: $38,338
Earnings 10y: $40,778
Acceptance: 76.1%

#25

Beal University

Bangor, ME · Private For-Profit

ROI score: 2.22
Net price: $40,109
Earnings 10y: $35,639
Acceptance: Open / not reported

How we picked this list

This list starts with Maine colleges, then sorts by EduGradify's school-wide ROI proxy: ten-year median earnings weighed against average net price. The set's average EduGradify ROI score is 9.62 (13 public, 11 private).

Every figure comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. See our full methodology for the formulas.

FAQ

Who leads this ranking?

Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, ME tops this ranking. EduGradify value grade is A+.

How does EduGradify pick this list?

We rank this set by roi score using the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard — see our methodology for the full formula. No paid placements, no surveys.

How many Maine colleges are in this list?

25 Maine colleges qualified for this ranking based on available federal data.

What does net price mean here?

Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships — not the sticker price. It is reported by each college to the U.S. Department of Education.