There are lots of options to choose from today when trying to decide which school to attend. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Bachelor's Degree Colleges in Maine ranking.
We analyzed 13 colleges and universities across Maine to determine which ones have the best bachelor's degree programs. To come up with this ranking of the best schools, we look at factors that are all objective measurements. We explain more about what we look at and why we do so below.
Higher Than Average Earnings
To determine the overall quality of a graduate school, one factor we look at is the average early-career salary of those receiving a bachelor's degree from the school. While bachelor's degree recipients from schools in Maine earn an average starting salary of $40,463, those from the top 13 school on this list made an average of $43,511.
Starting Salary ( 27862 to 51482 )
Taking Out Student Loans
Another factor that we look at to determine a school's ranking is the average debt load that students take on while they are working on their bachelor's degree.
When attending a school in Maine, bachelor's degree students accumulate an average of $30,985 in student debt before graduation.
We consider this number in conjunction with average post-graduation earnings to gauge the difficulty bachelor's recipients will have paying back their loans.
More Ranking Factors That Are Important
We also analyze a number of other factors in addition to average post-graduation earnings and average student debt when coming up with our yearly Best Bachelor's Degree Schools ranking.
On a broad level, other factors that go into our rankings include such things as the demand of the school, the student body caliber, if the school has online options, and the educational resources provided by the school.
You may also want to narrow this list by location to find the best bachelor's degree schools nearest you. In addition, we've put together a number of other college rankings that may help you in your search.
Our analysis found Bowdoin College to be the best school for bachelor’s degrees in Maine in this year’s ranking. Located in Brunswick, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 619 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin make an average of $46,246 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $18,749. This translates to an average monthly payment of $450 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Colby College. It ranked #2 on our 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine list. Located in Waterville, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 711 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $45,726 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $20,235.
Out of the 13 bachelor’s degree schools in Maine that were part of this year’s ranking, Bates College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Lewiston, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 564 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $39,698 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $13,389.
Out of the 13 bachelor’s degree schools in Maine that were part of this year’s ranking, Maine Maritime Academy landed the #4 spot on the list. Maine Maritime is a small public school situated in Castine, Maine. It awarded 190 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Maine Maritime make an average of $72,956 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $27,100 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $634 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Out of the 13 bachelor’s degree schools in Maine that were part of this year’s ranking, University of New England landed the #5 spot on the list. University of New England is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school located in Biddeford, Maine that handed out 569 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UNE go into careers with an average salary of $34,513 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,972. If the student is repaying the loan over 10 years, the average monthly payment is $493.
With a ranking of #6, University of Southern Maine did quite well on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine list. Portland, Maine is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 1,275 students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from University of Southern Maine make an average of $39,673 a year. Bachelor’s students leave the school with an average of $24,664 in student loans.
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Standish, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school handed out 303 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s Maine make an average of $47,902 per year during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $25,354 after getting their degree. Average monthly loan payments are around $582 for a 10-year repayment plan.
University of Maine at Farmington ranked #8 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine list. UMaine Farmington is located in Farmington, Maine and has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 355 bachelor’s degrees to qualified graduate students.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UMaine Farmington make an average of $30,923 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,323.
Husson University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine list. Located in Bangor, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 528 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from Husson make an average of $35,525 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $27,879. Average monthly loan payments are around $204 for a 10-year repayment plan.
Thomas College did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine ranking, coming in at #10. Located in Waterville, Maine, the small private not-for-profit school awarded 196 diplomas to qualifed bachelor’s degree students in 2020-2021.
During the early years of their career, bachelor’s degree graduates from Thomas College make an average of $35,166 a year. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $26,857.
University of Maine at Fort Kent did quite well in the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine ranking, coming in at #11. Located in Fort Kent, Maine, the small public school handed out 228 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Upon graduation, bachelor’s degree recipients go on to jobs making an average salary of $61,135 during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $31,000.
University of Maine at Augusta came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine ranking. Augusta, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelor’s degrees to 418 students in 2020-2021.
Those who receive a bachelor’s degree from UMA go into careers with an average salary of $36,726 during the early years of their career. Bachelor’s students carry an average student debt load of about $32,659 after getting their degree.
University of Maine landed the #13 spot on the 2024 Best Bachelor’s Degree Schools in Maine ranking. University of Maine is a fairly large public school located in Orono, Maine that handed out 2,012 bachelor’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Graduates with a bachelor’s degree from UMaine make an average of $39,461 per year during the early years of their career. The average amount of student debt accumulated by bachelor’s students is $25,875. This translates to an average monthly payment of $153 if the graduate is repaying the loan over a 10-year period.
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).
Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
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