by our College Data Analytics Team
With all of the college options in Maine, it can be hard to know where to start. Our ranking highlights **19** colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.To arm you with the information you need, College Factual analyzed 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.
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Here are the top-ranked colleges: Bowdoin College tops our 2026 ranking of the best colleges in Maine. Based in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. Bowdoin College posts a six-year graduation rate of 95%. Students from in state pay about $67,832 in tuition and fees. 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. You'll be in good company at Bates College, which ranked #2 this year. Bates College is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewiston, ME. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $66,590 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $43,933. Bates College students take on a median of $12,226 in debt. The strong outcomes at Colby College earned it the #3 place in Maine. Colby College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterville, ME. About 89% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,600. Median early-career earnings reach $46,772. Graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans. The strong outcomes at University Of New England earned it the #4 place in Maine. Based in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. University Of New England graduates report median early-career earnings of $65,711. The median student debt is $26,838.1
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You'll be in good company at Maine Maritime Academy, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy graduates report median early-career earnings of $91,014. Maine Maritime Academy students take on a median of $27,000 in debt.5
Saint Josephs College Of Maine did well this year, earning the #6 position. Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit school based in Standish, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $44,420. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,463 early in their careers. Saint Josephs College Of Maine students take on a median of $26,625 in debt. University Of Maine landed the #7 spot in Maine this year. University Of Maine is a public school based in Orono, ME. University Of Maine graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Median early-career earnings reach $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 #8 position. Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewiston, ME. In-state tuition and fees average $20,952. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $64,142. The median student debt is $21,688. University Of Southern Maine placed #9 among the best colleges in Maine. This public school is set in Portland, ME. University Of Southern Maine graduates 40% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,003 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans.6
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Husson University landed the #10 spot in Maine this year. Located in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Husson University graduates 59% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,304. Median early-career earnings reach $52,868. Husson University students take on a median of $27,735 in debt.10
Unity College placed #11 among the best colleges in Maine. Located in New Gloucester, ME, Unity College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 29%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,640. Unity College graduates report median early-career earnings of $36,144. The median student debt is $27,083. University Of Maine At Fort Kent did well this year, earning the #12 position. University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public school based in Fort Kent, ME. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,420, with out-of-state students paying around $14,880. University Of Maine At Fort Kent graduates report median early-career earnings of $71,551. University Of Maine At Fort Kent students take on a median of $30,447 in debt. College Of The Atlantic landed the #13 spot in Maine this year. Located in Bar Harbor, ME, College Of The Atlantic is a private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $47,997. Graduates go on to earn a median of $23,003 early in their careers. College Of The Atlantic students take on a median of $25,475 in debt. University Of Maine At Farmington ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Located in Farmington, ME, University Of Maine At Farmington is a public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,308, with out-of-state students paying around $23,878. Median early-career earnings reach $35,414. Typical student debt is $25,703.11
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Southern Maine Community College landed the #15 spot in Maine this year. Set in South Portland, ME, Southern Maine Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Early-career graduates earn a median of $41,328. The median student debt is $13,869.15
Kennebec Valley Community College ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. This public school is set in Fairfield, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,896. Typical student debt is $16,165. University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Presque Isle, ME, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public institution. About 24% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Median early-career earnings reach $41,148. Students borrow a median of $23,434 to complete a degree here. Thomas College landed the #18 spot in Maine this year. Thomas College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterville, ME. About 53% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,824. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,732 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $26,530. Northern Maine Community College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Presque Isle, ME. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $48,503. Students borrow a median of $16,013 to complete a degree here.1617
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Central Maine Community College landed the #20 spot in Maine this year. Based in Auburn, ME, Central Maine Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, with out-of-state students paying around $7,020. Early-career graduates earn a median of $43,934. Students borrow a median of $14,700 to complete a degree here.20
Maine College Of Art placed #21 among the best colleges in Maine. Based in Portland, ME, Maine College Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. Maine College Of Art graduates 52% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $42,942. Maine College Of Art graduates report median early-career earnings of $27,837. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Eastern Maine Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best colleges. Set in Bangor, ME, Eastern Maine Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $52,263. Students borrow a median of $17,741 to complete a degree here. York County Community College placed #23 among the best colleges in Maine. This public school is set in Wells, ME. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $35,803. The median student debt is $12,757. Washington County Community College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Based in Calais, ME, Washington County Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #25 spot in Maine this year. Based 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, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. University Of Maine At Augusta graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,574. The median student debt is $29,313.21
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Not far behind, these colleges also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:262728293031
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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.