2026 Best Registered Nursing Schools in Maine
Registered Nursing is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their registered nursing programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for registered nursing students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Registered Nursing in Maine
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the registered nursing degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Registered Nursing
Leading the list is University Of New England, our #1 school for registered nursing. University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Biddeford. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 115 registered nursing degrees were awarded at University Of New England in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from University Of New England generally make around $155,409. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the registered nursing program at University Of New England
A rank of #2 makes Saint Josephs College Of Maine one of the top schools for registered nursing. Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Standish. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Josephs College Of Maine awarded about 50 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, registered nursing degree recipients from Saint Josephs College Of Maine generally make around $91,389. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Saint Josephs College Of Maine
University Of Maine is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #3. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 79 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $91,413 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Get the full registered nursing details for University Of Maine
Husson University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in registered nursing, landing the #4 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bangor. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 64 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Husson University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $96,750 in their early career. Husson University graduates carry a median of $29,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in registered nursing from Husson University
Southern Maine Community College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in registered nursing, ranking #5. Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of South Portland. About 86 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Southern Maine Community College in the most recent year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $67,850 in their early career. Southern Maine Community College graduates carry a median of $24,496 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for Southern Maine Community College
University Of Southern Maine ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Portland. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. There were roughly 176 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern Maine in the most recent data year. Students who receive their registered nursing degree from University Of Southern Maine earn around $87,246 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern Maine graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for University Of Southern Maine
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions placed #7 among the best registered nursing schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 54 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions earn a median of $68,704 early in their careers. Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions graduates carry a median of $25,875 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
Central Maine Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 26 registered nursing degrees were awarded at Central Maine Community College in the most recent year. Registered Nursing graduates of Central Maine Community College earn a median of $66,734 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $23,724.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Central Maine Community College
Kennebec Valley Community College came in at #9 for registered nursing this year. Set in the town of Fairfield, Kennebec Valley Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Kennebec Valley Community College awarded about 32 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $69,117 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,922.
Get the full registered nursing details for Kennebec Valley Community College
Northern Maine Community College landed the #10 spot for registered nursing this year. Northern Maine Community College is a small public school located in the town of Presque Isle. Northern Maine Community College awarded about 26 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Registered Nursing graduates of Northern Maine Community College earn a median of $66,455 early in their careers. Northern Maine Community College graduates carry a median of $20,750 in student loans.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Northern Maine Community College
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #11 spot for registered nursing this year. University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Augusta. The six-year graduation rate is 26%. There were roughly 61 registered nursing students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maine At Augusta in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $82,845 in their early career. University Of Maine At Augusta graduates carry a median of $29,510 in student loans.
Get the full registered nursing details for University Of Maine At Augusta
Eastern Maine Community College earned the #12 position for registered nursing this year. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. Eastern Maine Community College awarded about 31 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $69,158 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $32,818 to complete this degree.
Read more about the registered nursing program at Eastern Maine Community College
York County Community College placed #13 among the best registered nursing schools. York County Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the suburb of Wells. York County Community College awarded about 20 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $35,803 in their early career. York County Community College graduates carry a median of $12,757 in student loans.
See the full registered nursing program report for York County Community College
Beal College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best registered nursing schools. Located in the city of Bangor, Beal College is a small private for-profit university. Beal College awarded about 93 registered nursing degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the registered nursing program make about $47,794 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,557.
Get the full registered nursing details for Beal College
More Registered Nursing Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
