Cheapest Liberal Arts and Sciences Colleges in Maine

Maine's most affordable Liberal Arts and Sciences programs span a remarkable cost range from $10,028 to $37,109, with public universities claiming the bottom five spots. The University of Maine at Presque Isle leads at just over $10,000 annually, while private colleges like Colby reach nearly four times that amount. Graduates in this field earn between $23,649 and $29,956, positioning them well for Maine's growing healthcare and tourism sectors where communication skills and analytical thinking remain essential. The state's 14 programs show striking variation in outcomes, with graduation rates ranging from 23% to over 90%.

Programs

$10,028 – $37,109

Net Price Range

$26,266

Avg. Program Earnings

56.6%

Avg. Graduation Rate

14 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, Maine	$10,028	$8,990	37.7%	97.0%
2	University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent, Maine	$10,865	$9,045	39.8%	99.2%
3	University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, Maine	$11,353	$8,618	23.3%
4	University of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	$11,729	$10,920	46.3%	85.4%
5	University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, Maine	$14,873	$10,989	52.8%	94.2%
6	University of Maine Orono, Maine	$18,045	$12,606	56.4%	94.0%
7	Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, Maine	$18,217	$12,640	57.0%	94.3%
8	Thomas College Waterville, Maine	$19,223	$30,896	51.4%	97.2%
9	Husson University Bangor, Maine	$20,798	$22,194	56.7%	91.3%
10	Maine Maritime Academy Castine, Maine	$21,185	$14,746	61.4%	57.7%
11	Colby College Waterville, Maine	$23,939	$66,600	90.2%	7.6%
12	Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish, Maine	$24,666	$42,834	68.5%	80.8%
13	Bates College Lewiston, Maine	$30,703	$63,478	90.6%	13.7%
14	University of New England Biddeford, Maine	$37,109	$42,550	60.8%	96.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes public universities in Maine so much cheaper for Liberal Arts students?

All five cheapest programs belong to University of Maine system schools, with net costs under $15,000. The Pine Tree State Grant specifically helps Maine residents, while private colleges like Colby and Bates charge over $60,000 in tuition before aid.

How do graduation rates vary among Maine's most affordable Liberal Arts programs?

The cheapest option, University of Maine at Presque Isle, graduates 37.7% of students, while pricier Colby College reaches 90.2%. University of Maine at Augusta shows the lowest completion rate at 23.3% despite relatively low costs.

Is there a connection between program cost and post-graduation earnings?

Not necessarily - University of Maine at Augusta costs just $11,353 but produces the highest earners at $29,956 annually. Meanwhile, University of Southern Maine graduates earn $23,649 despite similar program costs.

Where do most affordable Liberal Arts programs concentrate geographically in Maine?

Northern Maine dominates the cheapest options, with Presque Isle and Fort Kent leading the list. These rural campuses offer significantly lower costs than southern Maine institutions, though acceptance rates remain above 96% at both schools.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.