Best Colleges in Maine

Hannah Muniz
By
Updated on September 24, 2024
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The higher education experts at BestColleges.com have reviewed the top 4-year colleges in Maine. Start planning your future at BestColleges.

According to data from the Maine Center for Workforce Research and Information (CWRI), Maine can expect virtually no job growth from 2016 to 2026. Despite this sobering outlook for the state’s economy, certain industries in Maine should experience steady growth during this period. For example, the CWRI projects employment in healthcare occupations to increase by 9%, adding roughly 5,800 new positions in the coming years. Employment in computer and mathematical occupations is also projected to grow just over 6%.

While you may find entry-level jobs in these fields with just a high school diploma, the most lucrative roles usually require a postsecondary education. For instance, registered nurses in Maine earned an annual mean wage of $67,610 in 2018, nearly $21,000 more per year than the average pay for all other occupations in the state. Computer systems analysts in the state earned even more, with an annual mean wage of $81,670. Both of these roles typically require a college degree.

To help you decide where to continue your education, we have compiled a ranking of the best colleges in Maine. Each of the profiles below includes helpful information on the school’s admission requirements, programs of study, online education options, and financial aid opportunities. Additionally, each college on this list holds regional accreditation.

Best Accredited Colleges in Maine

#1 Best Colleges in Maine

Bowdoin College

  • Location-markerBrunswick, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$60,952
  • Out-of-state$60,952
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate96%
  • Acceptance Rate9%
  • Students Enrolled1,915
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#2 Best Colleges in Maine

Colby College

  • Location-markerWaterville, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$60,840
  • Out-of-state$60,840
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate93%
  • Acceptance Rate8%
  • Students Enrolled2,299
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment77%
  • AccreditationYes
#3 Best Colleges in Maine

Bates College

  • Location-markerLewiston, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$61,066
  • Out-of-state$61,066
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-StateN/A
  • Out-of-stateN/A
  • Retention Rate93%
  • Acceptance Rate14%
  • Students Enrolled1,790
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#4 Best Colleges in Maine

College of the Atlantic

  • Location-markerBar Harbor, ME
  • 2 year
  • Campus
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$44,280
  • Out-of-state$44,280
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$29,520
  • Out-of-state$29,520
  • Retention Rate74%
  • Acceptance Rate60%
  • Students Enrolled380
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
  • AccreditationYes
#5 Best Colleges in Maine

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

  • Location-markerStandish, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$41,586
  • Out-of-state$41,586
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,630
  • Out-of-state$9,630
  • Retention Rate77%
  • Acceptance Rate81%
  • Students Enrolled1,478
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment59%
  • AccreditationYes
#6 Best Colleges in Maine

University of Southern Maine

  • Location-markerPortland, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,640
  • Out-of-state$24,300
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$7,776
  • Out-of-state$22,500
  • Retention Rate67%
  • Acceptance Rate85%
  • Students Enrolled7,583
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment63%
  • AccreditationYes
#7 Best Colleges in Maine

University of Maine at Farmington

  • Location-markerFarmington, ME
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$8,640
  • Out-of-state$20,400
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$10,248
  • Out-of-state$10,248
  • Retention Rate71%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled1,837
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment45%
  • AccreditationYes
#8 Best Colleges in Maine

University of New England

  • Location-markerBiddeford, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$39,510
  • Out-of-state$39,510
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$29,607
  • Out-of-state$29,607
  • Retention Rate70%
  • Acceptance Rate96%
  • Students Enrolled6,434
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment41%
  • AccreditationYes
#9 Best Colleges in Maine

University of Maine

  • Location-markerOrono, ME
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$11,640
  • Out-of-state$33,240
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$9,738
  • Out-of-state$29,214
  • Retention Rate75%
  • Acceptance Rate94%
  • Students Enrolled11,571
  • Institution TypePublic
  • Percent Online Enrollment60%
  • AccreditationYes
#10 Best Colleges in Maine

Husson University

  • Location-markerBangor, ME
  • 2 year
  • Campus + Online
Average Undergrad Tuition
  • In-State$20,150
  • Out-of-state$20,150
Average Graduate Tuition
  • In-State$17,220
  • Out-of-state$17,220
  • Retention Rate79%
  • Acceptance Rate91%
  • Students Enrolled3,078
  • Institution TypePrivate
  • Percent Online Enrollment62%
  • AccreditationYes

badge-checkHow We Rank Schools

At BestColleges, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments you can make. We help you navigate the college selection process by offering transparent, inclusive, and relevant school rankings.

We use datasets from trusted sources like the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools and our methodologies. This ranking is from 2020. To learn more, check out our full ranking methodologies.

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