State Rankings

Best Colleges in Maine

Top colleges in Maine ranked by national standing and graduate outcomes — updated 2026.

Colleges listed: 29

Avg grad earnings: $50,914

Public / Private: 15 / 14

Top Colleges in Maine

Nationally ranked schools appear first. Remaining schools are ordered by median graduate earnings.

State #	School	Type	Grad Earnings	Admit Rate	SAT Avg	Grad Rate	Out-of-State
1	Bowdoin College Brunswick#29 national	Private	$82,735	8.0%	1,514	95.6%	$64,910
2	Colby College Waterville#94 national	Private	$80,490	6.8%	1,500	90.2%	$66,600
3	Bates College Lewiston#161 national	Private	$69,498	13.0%	1,446	90.6%	$63,478
4	Maine Maritime Academy Castine#231 national	Public	$89,964	61.4%	1,185	61.4%	$30,226
5	Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish#530 national	Private	$59,045	81.7%	1,030	68.5%	$42,834
6	University of New England Biddeford#942 national	Private	$55,921	88.8%	N/A	60.8%	$42,550
7	University of Southern Maine Portland#1011 national	Public	$49,958	79.3%	1,130	46.3%	$27,104
8	York County Community College Wells#1016 national	Public	$44,873	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,746
9	University of Maine Orono#1148 national	Public	$48,653	95.7%	N/A	56.4%	$35,346
10	Northern Maine Community College Presque Isle#1154 national	Public	$43,348	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,760
11	Central Maine Community College Auburn#1198 national	Public	$42,448	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,744
12	Eastern Maine Community College Bangor#1247 national	Public	$41,704	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,667
13	Southern Maine Community College South Portland#1390 national	Public	$41,661	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,677
14	Husson University Bangor#1520 national	Private	$45,025	86.4%	1,110	56.7%	$22,194
15	University of Maine at Farmington Farmington#1631 national	Public	$44,433	97.6%	1,040	52.8%	$23,079
16	Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield#1803 national	Public	$36,035	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,442
17	Thomas College Waterville#1923 national	Private	$44,991	97.1%	N/A	51.4%	$30,896
18	University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent#1997 national	Public	$51,077	99.1%	N/A	39.8%	$14,325
19	University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle#2336 national	Public	$40,956	97.1%	N/A	37.7%	$14,270
20	Unity Environmental University New Gloucester#2393 national	Private	$37,852	81.8%	N/A	57.0%	$12,640
21	University of Maine at Augusta Augusta#2448 national	Public	$40,342	N/A	N/A	23.3%	$21,548
22	Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston	Private	$79,840	33.3%	910	83.3%	$17,827
23	The Landing School Arundel	Private	$65,849	N/A	N/A	N/A	$27,700
24	University of Maine - Machias Machias	Public	$48,653	N/A	N/A	N/A	$17,670
25	Maine College of Art & Design Portland	Private	$40,778	77.5%	N/A	48.7%	$41,398
26	College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor	Private	$40,264	65.0%	N/A	69.2%	$46,179
27	Unity Environmental University New Gloucester	Private	$37,852	N/A	N/A	N/A	$11,280
28	Unity Environmental University - Unity Unity	Private	$37,852	N/A	N/A	N/A	$17,876
29	Washington County Community College Calais	Public	$34,407	N/A	N/A	N/A	$6,567

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Excludes for-profit institutions.

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