At $18,045/yr net price, University of Maine graduates earn $48,653/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $14,653/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,045 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $72,180 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $48,653/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$14,653/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 4.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 56.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,800/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,707/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,408/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,101/yr |
| $110,001+ | $21,756/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. | Bachelor | $73,737 | $25,528 |
| Chemical Engineering. | Bachelor | $72,509 | $19,750 |
| Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $68,499 | $27,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | Bachelor | $62,775 | $26,073 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $61,218 | $27,000 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $58,673 | $20,500 |
| Construction Engineering Technologies. | Bachelor | $55,964 | $26,411 |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians. | Bachelor | $55,964 | $26,716 |
| Civil Engineering. | Bachelor | $52,464 | $26,975 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $45,808 | $22,984 |
The Risk Factor
56.4% of students at University of Maine graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
University of Maine gives you a solid financial return if you pick the right major, and a shaky one if you don't. The engineering programs carry this school. Electrical engineering graduates out-earn the school's median by roughly $25,000 a year, and chemical engineering pairs strong pay with the lowest debt load of any top program here. Nursing and mechanical engineering also clear $60,000 and connect to jobs Maine actually has, including the hospital systems and manufacturing base across the state.
The problem is the gap between those programs and everything else. The school-wide median earnings sit well below what its engineering grads make, which tells you the majors outside that list pull the average down hard. If you enroll planning to study something with no listed salary data, you're taking on the same debt with no evidence of the same payoff. Treat the engineering and nursing numbers as the exception, not the baseline.
The specific risk here is completion. Only 56% of students finish, and about a quarter don't return after freshman year. Debt with no degree is the worst outcome at any school, and those odds are real at Orono. Borrow as if you might be in the group that doesn't graduate on time.
On price, the tiers reward lower-income families. If your family earns under $48,000, your net price barely moves and stays under $14,000. Above $75,000, you pay closer to full sticker, and over $110,000 you get almost no break. Middle- and upper-income families should compare this against in-state alternatives before committing.
This school pays off cleanly for you if you're set on engineering or nursing and can finish the degree. If you're undecided or drawn to a lower-earning field, look harder at the total cost first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is University of Maine worth the cost?
University of Maine offers reasonable value with a net price of $18,045 and median debt of $25,000, but the 10-year median earnings of $48,653 are below national averages. Engineering and nursing graduates see much better returns, while other majors may struggle to justify the investment.
What are the best paying majors at University of Maine?
Engineering programs at University of Maine deliver strong ROI, with electrical engineers earning around $73,737 and chemical engineers making $72,509 within 10 years. Nursing also pays well at $61,218, but most other programs fall well below these levels.
How much student debt do University of Maine graduates have?
University of Maine graduates carry a median debt of $25,000, which is manageable for engineering and nursing majors but may be problematic for other programs given the school's below-average earning outcomes.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maine and does it affect ROI?
University of Maine has a 56% graduation rate, meaning nearly half of students don't finish their degree. This significantly hurts ROI since students who don't graduate still carry debt but miss out on the degree premium in earnings.