Best Colleges in Maine 2026

Maine has 30 colleges and universities in our database; 27 report the graduation-rate data our ranking requires. The top 25 are ranked below by a fixed four-factor formula: 6-year graduation rate (30%), median earnings 10 years after entry (30%), admission selectivity (20%), and in-state tuition affordability (20%).

Schools Ranked

$52,455

Avg. Earnings

55.0%

Avg. Graduation Rate

Top 25 Schools

College rankings
#	School	Graduation Rate	Median Earnings	Acceptance Rate	In-State Tuition
1	Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston, Maine	83.3%	$79,840	56.3%	$17,827
2	Bowdoin College Brunswick, Maine	95.6%	$82,735	9.2%	$64,910
3	The Landing School Arundel, Maine	100.0%	$65,849		$27,700
4	Colby College Waterville, Maine	90.2%	$80,490	7.6%	$66,600
5	Maine Maritime Academy Castine, Maine	61.4%	$89,964	57.7%	$14,746
6	Bates College Lewiston, Maine	90.6%	$69,498	13.7%	$63,478
7	Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield, Maine	47.8%	$36,035		$3,562
8	Washington County Community College Calais, Maine	43.4%	$34,407		$3,687
9	Northern Maine Community College Presque Isle, Maine	33.3%	$43,348		$3,880
10	Eastern Maine Community College Bangor, Maine	33.0%	$41,704		$3,877
11	York County Community College Wells, Maine	27.6%	$44,873		$3,866
12	Central Maine Community College Auburn, Maine	27.6%	$42,448		$3,864
13	University of Maine Orono, Maine	56.4%	$48,653	94.0%	$12,606
14	University of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	46.3%	$49,958	85.4%	$10,920
15	Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish, Maine	68.5%	$59,045	80.8%	$42,834
16	Southern Maine Community College South Portland, Maine	21.2%	$41,661		$3,797
17	University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, Maine	52.8%	$44,433	94.2%	$10,989
18	University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, Maine	23.3%	$40,342		$8,618
19	College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, Maine	69.2%	$40,264	60.1%	$46,179
20	Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, Maine	57.0%	$37,852	94.3%	$12,640
21	Husson University Bangor, Maine	56.7%	$45,025	91.3%	$22,194
22	University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent, Maine	39.8%	$51,077	99.2%	$9,045
23	University of New England Biddeford, Maine	60.8%	$55,921	96.3%	$42,550
24	University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, Maine	37.7%	$40,956	97.0%	$8,990
25	Thomas College Waterville, Maine	51.4%	$44,991	97.2%	$30,896