by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Maine, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **13** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual evaluated 13 colleges on more than 20 objective measures such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, and per-student spending, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). Learn more about our ranking methodology.
Explore the leading colleges below:
Bowdoin College earned the #1 spot in this year's Best Colleges ranking in Maine. Based in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $67,832. Graduates go on to earn a median of $58,938 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete a degree here.
Bates College came in at #2 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Maine. Bates College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewiston, ME. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $66,590. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,933. Bates College students take on a median of $12,226 in debt.
Out of the 13 colleges in Maine in this year's ranking, Colby College landed the #3 spot. Based in Waterville, ME, Colby College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Median early-career earnings reach $46,772. Typical student debt is $22,016.
A rank of #4 makes University Of New England one of the top colleges in Maine. University Of New England is a private not-for-profit school based in Biddeford, ME. University Of New England posts a six-year graduation rate of 70%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,210. University Of New England graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,711. Typical student debt is $26,838.
You'll be in good company at Maine Maritime Academy, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,158, compared with $31,102 for out-of-state students. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $91,014. The median student debt is $27,000.
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. University Of Maine posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. University Of Maine graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,975. Students borrow a median of $25,984 to complete a degree here.
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Lewiston, ME, Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,952. Graduates go on to earn a median of $64,142 early in their careers. Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions students take on a median of $21,688 in debt.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine landed the #8 spot in Maine this year. Located in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. Saint Josephs College Of Maine graduates 66% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,420. Median early-career earnings reach $67,463. The median student debt is $26,625.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Early-career graduates earn a median of $47,003. Graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans.
Husson University placed #10 among the best colleges in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Husson University posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,304. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,868. Graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans.
University Of Maine At Fort Kent ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Fort Kent, ME, University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public institution. University Of Maine At Fort Kent posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,420, compared with $14,880 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $71,551. Students borrow a median of $30,447 to complete a degree here.
Unity College did well this year, earning the #12 position. Located in New Gloucester, ME, Unity College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 29% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,640 in tuition and fees. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,144 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,083 to complete a degree here.
College Of The Atlantic placed #13 among the best colleges in Maine. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bar Harbor, ME. College Of The Atlantic graduates 68% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,997. Early-career graduates earn a median of $23,003. College Of The Atlantic students take on a median of $25,475 in debt.
University Of Maine At Farmington came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Based in Farmington, ME, University Of Maine At Farmington is a public institution. University Of Maine At Farmington posts a six-year graduation rate of 52%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,308, while out-of-state students pay about $23,878. Graduates go on to earn a median of $35,414 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,703 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle landed the #15 spot in Maine this year. University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public school based in Presque Isle, ME. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,402, while out-of-state students pay about $14,862. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,148 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,434 to complete a degree here.
Thomas College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Based in Waterville, ME, Thomas College is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas College posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $31,824 in tuition and fees. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $42,732. Typical student debt is $26,530.
Maine College Of Art landed the #17 spot in Maine this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Portland, ME. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $42,942. Graduates go on to earn a median of $27,837 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Augusta ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, while out-of-state students pay about $22,178. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,574 early in their careers. The median student debt is $29,313.
Beal College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This private for-profit school is set in Bangor, ME. Beal College graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,794. Students borrow a median of $23,557 to complete a degree here.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and per-student spending drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
References
Read more about our data sources and methodologies.