College ROI Report
Updated 2024
Best-value Colleges in Maine
Famous for lobster, rolling hills, Stephen King, thick forests and an even thicker Down East accent, Maine is the northernmost state in New England and home to a host of great colleges.
| Rank | School Name | 20 Year Net ROI | Total 4 Year Cost | Graduation Rate | Typical Years to Graduate | Average Loan Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank:1 | School Name: Maine Maritime Academy (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$896,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$116,000 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$50,100 |
| Rank:2 | School Name:Maine Maritime Academy (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$838,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$175,000 | Graduation Rate:66% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$50,100 |
| Rank:3 | School Name: Bowdoin College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$546,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$302,000 | Graduation Rate:94% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$42,000 |
| Rank:4 | School Name: Bates College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$518,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$308,000 | Graduation Rate:93% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$34,900 |
| Rank:5 | School Name: Colby College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$472,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$310,000 | Graduation Rate:88% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$33,700 |
| Rank:6 | School Name: University of Maine (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$396,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$106,000 | Graduation Rate:55% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$35,700 |
| Rank:7 | School Name:University of Maine (Out-of-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$311,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$191,000 | Graduation Rate:55% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$35,700 |
| Rank:8 | School Name:_50px.png) University of Southern Maine (In-State) | 20 Year Net ROI:$246,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$94,800 | Graduation Rate:42% | Typical Years to Graduate:5 | Average Loan Amount:$27,800 |
| Rank:9 | School Name:_50px.jpg) University of New England (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$224,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$236,000 | Graduation Rate:59% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$40,300 |
| Rank:10 | School Name:Thomas College (Private) | 20 Year Net ROI:$204,000 | Total 4 Year Cost:$175,000 | Graduation Rate:50% | Typical Years to Graduate:4 | Average Loan Amount:$31,900 |
If you are looking for the best value college in Maine, Payscale’s College ROI Report can help you evaluate schools based on their financial return on investment. To do this, we calculate the net 20-year ROI and use it to compare colleges in our Maine College ROI Report rankings. We’ve arrived at the net 20-year ROI or return on investment by determining how much high school graduates typically earn in a 20-year period after graduation. We took the responses from alumni from each college who took the Payscale Salary Survey to determine their median 20-year earnings. We subtracted tuition and other educational costs, and then arrived at the net 20-year ROI for each school.
The University of Maine at Orono has produced a number of famous alumni, including authors Stephen King and Tabitha King. This illustrious list also includes U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe and former football player Mike Flynn. The University of Maine is an NCAA hockey powerhouse, and has several graduates who played professionally, including Jack Capuano, Mike Dunham and Gustav Nyquist.
PayScale’s Maine College ROI Report makes it easy to think about education in terms of college return on investment. The value of education can’t only be measured in dollars, but by thinking about the financial implications of the cost of attending college, you can choose a school that makes sense for you.
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