2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Maine
[Social Work](/majors/social-services-public-administration/social-work/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong social work education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for social work students.
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2026 Best Value Social Work Schools in Maine
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the social work degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Social Work Schools
University Of Southern Maine tops our 2026 list of the best value social work schools in Maine. Set in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Social Work graduates carry a median of $22,610 in student loans. Social Work graduates of University Of Southern Maine earn a median of $44,316 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. 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, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Students borrow a median of $26,154 to complete the social work program here. Soon after graduation, social work degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $46,950. That is a strong return on a $26,154 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value social work schools. Located in the rural area of Standish, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,420. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $26,625. Early-career social work graduates make about $67,463. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. Saint Josephs College Of Maine admits about 84% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of New England earned it the #4 place for social work. Set in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,210. Typical student debt for social work graduates is $26,838. Social Work graduates of University Of New England earn a median of $52,239 early in their careers. Set against $26,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New England admits about 92% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 6 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.
