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2027 Best Value General Economics Schools in Maine

[General Economics](/majors/social-sciences/economics/economics-general/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong general economics education at a price that pays off.

College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general economics schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Economics Schools in Maine

2027 Best Value General Economics Schools in Maine

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general economics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value General Economics Schools

1

University Of Southern Maine
Portland, ME

$12,090 In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,996 Avg Student Debt

$49,958 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in general economics, no school beat University Of Southern Maine this year. University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. General Economics graduates carry a median of $12,996 in student loans. General Economics graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $49,173 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,996 median debt. The acceptance rate is 79%.

2

University Of Maine
Orono, ME

$13,326 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,984 Avg Student Debt

$48,653 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes University Of Maine one of the best values for general economics. University Of Maine is a large public school located in the suburb of Orono. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. General Economics graduates carry a median of $22,984 in student loans. Early-career general economics graduates make about $46,159. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• 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.