Best Colleges in Maine
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
- In-State$60,952
- Out-of-state$60,952
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate96%
- Acceptance Rate9%
- Students Enrolled1,915
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$60,840
- Out-of-state$60,840
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate8%
- Students Enrolled2,299
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment77%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$61,066
- Out-of-state$61,066
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate14%
- Students Enrolled1,790
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor, ME- 2 year
- Campus
- In-State$44,280
- Out-of-state$44,280
- In-State$29,520
- Out-of-state$29,520
- Retention Rate74%
- Acceptance Rate60%
- Students Enrolled380
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online EnrollmentN/A
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$41,586
- Out-of-state$41,586
- In-State$9,630
- Out-of-state$9,630
- Retention Rate77%
- Acceptance Rate81%
- Students Enrolled1,478
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment59%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,640
- Out-of-state$24,300
- In-State$7,776
- Out-of-state$22,500
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance Rate85%
- Students Enrolled7,583
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment63%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$8,640
- Out-of-state$20,400
- In-State$10,248
- Out-of-state$10,248
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled1,837
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$39,510
- Out-of-state$39,510
- In-State$29,607
- Out-of-state$29,607
- Retention Rate70%
- Acceptance Rate96%
- Students Enrolled6,434
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment41%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$11,640
- Out-of-state$33,240
- In-State$9,738
- Out-of-state$29,214
- Retention Rate75%
- Acceptance Rate94%
- Students Enrolled11,571
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment60%
- AccreditationYes
- In-State$20,150
- Out-of-state$20,150
- In-State$17,220
- Out-of-state$17,220
- Retention Rate79%
- Acceptance Rate91%
- Students Enrolled3,078
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
How 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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