by our College Data Analytics TeamWith all of the graduate school options in Maine, choosing the right one can feel overwhelming. This list ranks 31 programs by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology.
To help you make your decision, College Factual reviewed graduate schools 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.
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Learn more about these excellent graduate schools below:
No school ranked higher than Bowdoin College this year in Maine. Located in Brunswick, ME, Bowdoin College is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,832. Early-career graduates earn a median of $58,938. The median student debt is $20,658.
The strong outcomes at Bates College earned it the #2 place 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,933 early in their careers. Graduates carry a median of $12,226 in student loans.
Colby College came in at #3 on this year's Best Graduate Schools ranking in Maine. Colby College is a private not-for-profit school based in Waterville, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,600. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,772 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $22,016.
Out of the 31 graduate schools in Maine in this year's ranking, University Of New England landed the #4 spot. Based in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. In-state tuition and fees average $44,210. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,711 early in their careers. University Of New England students take on a median of $26,838 in debt.
A rank of #5 makes Maine Maritime Academy one of the top graduate schools in Maine. This public school is set in Castine, ME. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy graduates report median early-career earnings of $91,014. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #6 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Standish, ME. Saint Josephs College Of Maine graduates 66% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $44,420. Graduates go on to earn a median of $67,463 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,625.
University Of Maine landed the #7 spot in Maine this year. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. University Of Maine graduates report median early-career earnings of $47,975. Typical student debt is $25,984.
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions landed the #8 spot in Maine this year. Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions is a private not-for-profit school based in Lewiston, ME. Students from in state pay about $20,952 in tuition and fees. 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.
University Of Southern Maine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. This public school is set in Portland, ME. 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. Typical student debt is $23,593.
Husson University placed #10 among the best graduate schools in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Husson University graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,868. Typical student debt is $27,735.
Unity College landed the #11 spot in Maine this year. This private not-for-profit school is set in New Gloucester, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 29%. Students from in state pay about $12,640 in tuition and fees. Median early-career earnings reach $36,144. Students borrow a median of $27,083 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Fort Kent ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Located in Fort Kent, ME, University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public institution. University Of Maine At Fort Kent graduates 34% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,420, while out-of-state students pay about $14,880. Graduates go on to earn a median of $71,551 early in their careers. Typical student debt is $30,447.
College Of The Atlantic did well this year, earning the #13 position. 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 run about $47,997. College Of The Atlantic graduates report median early-career earnings of $23,003. College Of The Atlantic students take on a median of $25,475 in debt.
University Of Maine At Farmington placed #14 among the best graduate schools in Maine. Based in Farmington, ME, University Of Maine At Farmington is a public institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
Southern Maine Community College came in at #15 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in South Portland, ME. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Southern Maine Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,328. Typical student debt is $13,869.
Kennebec Valley Community College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Set in Fairfield, ME, Kennebec Valley 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,896 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,165 to complete a degree here.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle placed #17 among the best graduate schools in Maine. Located in Presque Isle, ME, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 24%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. University Of Maine At Presque Isle graduates report median early-career earnings of $41,148. Typical student debt is $23,434.
Thomas College landed the #18 spot in Maine this year. Located in Waterville, ME, Thomas College is a private not-for-profit institution. Thomas College posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,824. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,732 early in their careers. The median student debt is $26,530.
Northern Maine Community College did well this year, earning the #19 position. Northern Maine Community College is a public school based in Presque Isle, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Early-career graduates earn a median of $48,503. Graduates carry a median of $16,013 in student loans.
Central Maine Community College did well this year, earning the #20 position. This public school is set in Auburn, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,934 early in their careers. Central Maine Community College students take on a median of $14,700 in debt.
Maine College Of Art came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Located in Portland, ME, Maine College Of Art is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $42,942. A year after graduating, students earn a median of $27,837. Typical student debt is $27,000.
Eastern Maine Community College landed the #22 spot in Maine this year. Eastern Maine Community College is a public school based in Bangor, ME. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Eastern Maine Community College graduates report median early-career earnings of $52,263. Graduates carry a median of $17,741 in student loans.
York County Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best graduate schools. Set in Wells, ME, York County Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Median early-career earnings reach $35,803. The median student debt is $12,757.
Washington County Community College landed the #24 spot in Maine this year. This public school is set in Calais, ME. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students.
University Of Maine At Augusta came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Located in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. Roughly 26% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,888, while out-of-state students pay about $22,178. University Of Maine At Augusta graduates report median early-career earnings of $45,574. The median student debt is $29,313.
Not far behind, these graduate schools also landed in the top of this year’s ranking:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked graduate schools only.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Graduate schools are scored on 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.