by our College Data Analytics TeamBowdoin College ranks #1 of 19 colleges in College Factual’s 2027 Best Bachelor’s Degree Colleges in Maine ranking, which scores schools on more than 20 measures of academic quality and student outcomes. The top 19 colleges average a 56% six-year graduation rate and $63,642 in median earnings five years after graduation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
With all of the college options in Maine, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. We have ranked **19** institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2027 methodology.
To arm you with the information you need, College Factual reviewed 19 colleges using more than 20 objective factors 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.
Bowdoin College leads the 19 ranked colleges in Maine, followed by Colby College (#2) and Bates College (#3). Here are the top-ranked colleges:
Leading the list is Bowdoin College, our #1 college in Maine. Set in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $67,832 in tuition and fees. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,938. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete a degree here.
A rank of #2 makes Colby College one of the top colleges in Maine. Set in Waterville, ME, Colby College is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $69,600 in tuition and fees. Colby College graduates report median early-career earnings of $46,772. The median student debt is $22,016.
You'll be in good company at Bates College, which ranked #3 this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lewiston, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $66,590. Bates College graduates report median early-career earnings of $43,933. Graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans.
A rank of #4 makes University Of New England one of the top colleges in Maine. Based in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,210. University Of New England graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,711. University Of New England students take on a median of $26,838 in debt.
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #5 on this year's Best Colleges ranking in Maine. Maine Maritime Academy is a public school based in Castine, ME. Maine Maritime Academy posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Graduates go on to earn a median of $91,014 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,000.
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #6 position. This public school is set in Orono, ME. 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. Graduates carry a median of $25,984 in student loans.
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Lewiston, ME, Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $20,952. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,142. Students borrow a median of $21,688 to complete a degree here.
University Of Southern Maine came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,003 early in their careers. University Of Southern Maine students take on a median of $23,593 in debt.
Husson University placed #9 among the best colleges in Maine. Husson University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bangor, ME. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Early-career graduates earn a median of $52,868. Graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,420. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $67,463. Saint Josephs College Of Maine students take on a median of $26,625 in debt.
Unity College landed the #11 spot in Maine this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Gloucester, ME. Roughly 29% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,640. Graduates go on to earn a median of $36,144 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $27,083.
University Of Maine At Fort Kent came in at #12 in this year's ranking. University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public school based in Fort Kent, ME. University Of Maine At Fort Kent posts a six-year graduation rate of 34%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,420, compared with $14,880 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine At Fort Kent graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,551. Students borrow a median of $30,447 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Based in Presque Isle, ME, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public institution. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,402 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,862. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,148. Typical student debt is $23,434.
College Of The Atlantic came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Set in Bar Harbor, ME, College Of The Atlantic is a private not-for-profit institution. College Of The Atlantic posts a six-year graduation rate of 68%. In-state tuition and fees average $47,997. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $25,475.
University Of Maine At Farmington came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Farmington, ME. University Of Maine At Farmington graduates 52% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,308 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,878 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $35,414. Typical student debt is $25,703.
Thomas College placed #16 among the best colleges in Maine. Based in Waterville, ME, Thomas College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $31,824. Thomas College graduates report median early-career earnings of $42,732. Thomas College students take on a median of $26,530 in debt.
Maine College Of Art placed #17 among the best colleges in Maine. This private not-for-profit school is set in Portland, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 52%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,942. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $27,837. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Augusta did well this year, earning the #18 position. Located in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. University Of Maine At Augusta posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. Students from in state pay about $8,888 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $45,574. The median student debt is $29,313.
Beal College ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best colleges. Located in Bangor, ME, Beal College is a private for-profit institution. Beal College graduates report median early-career earnings of $39,570. Typical student debt is $17,805.
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Rankings consider 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.