by our College Data Analytics TeamWhen pursuing a degree in today's world, there are many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we're committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking.
See What's Included in This Value Report:
We analyzed 18 schools across Maine to determine which have the best value programs. Instead of depending on subjective information to rank the best value schools, we focus on objective factors in our analysis. More specifically, the following explains what we consider and why.
To determine the value of a school in our Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking, we first add average tuition, fees, and room and board costs (without aid) together. But, a school that excels in providing value for your money must also be a great school overall as well.
To account for this we include a college's overall Best Colleges ranking which itself looks at a combination of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
To learn more, visit our best value ranking methodology page.
Keep scrolling for the top schools in this ranking or select one of the other rankings methods below.
If you know what major you want to study, check out our list of the best value schools by major. If you're interested in other degree levels, you can view one of the lists below.
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Maine Maritime Academy tops this year’s ranking as the best value (no aid) school in Maine for overall quality. This small public school is located in Castine, Maine.
Not only is Maine Maritime Academy a great value, but it is also ranked #4 in Maine for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $25,248 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $18,410 a year.
Out of the 18 schools in Maine that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern Maine landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Southern Maine is a medium-sized public school located in Portland, Maine.
University of Southern Maine has the honor of being ranked #8 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $20,242 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,194 per year for graduate students.
The quality degree programs at University of Maine helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of Best Colleges for the Money in Maine. This fairly large public school is located in Orono, Maine.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Maine is ranked #6 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,698 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $21,726 a year.
Out of the 18 schools in Maine that were part of this year’s ranking, York County Community College landed the #4 spot on the list. Wells, Maine is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. It is a public school.
Not only is York County Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #14 in Maine for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,922 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $8,056 per year for graduate students.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Southern Maine Community College. It ranked #5 on our 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Located in South Portland, Maine, the school is a medium-sized public institution.
Southern Maine Community College has the honor of being ranked #12 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $14,012 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $10,138 a year.
University of Maine at Farmington did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking, coming in at #6. UMaine Farmington is a small public school situated in Farmington, Maine.
University of Maine at Farmington has the honor of being ranked #10 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost without aid for the school is $19,926 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $21,374 per year for graduate students.
Central Maine Community College did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Auburn, Maine, the school is a small public institution.
Central Maine Community College has the honor of being ranked #16 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $13,364 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,500 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #8, University of Maine at Augusta did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. UMA is a public institution located in Augusta, Maine.
Not only is University of Maine at Augusta a great value, but it is also ranked #15 in Maine for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $16,578 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,592 a year.
University of Maine at Fort Kent came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking. This small public school is located in Fort Kent, Maine.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, University of Maine at Fort Kent is ranked #17 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $17,625 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $9,120 per year for graduate students.
With a ranking of #10, Unity College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Unity is located in New Gloucester, Maine and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
Unity College has the honor of being ranked #11 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $23,540 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $20,650 per year for graduate students.
Eastern Maine Community College ranked #11 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Eastern Maine Community College is located in Bangor, Maine and has a small student population. It is a public school.
Not only is Eastern Maine Community College a great value, but it is also ranked #18 in Maine for overall quality. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $11,999 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $8,134 a year.
With a ranking of #12, Husson University did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Husson is located in Bangor, Maine and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Husson University is ranked #9 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $30,796 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $28,686 a year.
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine did quite well in the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking, coming in at #13. Saint Joseph’s Maine is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Standish, Maine.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is ranked #7 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost without aid for the school is $54,922 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $24,702 a year.
With a ranking of #14, University of New England did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Located in Biddeford, Maine, the school is a medium-sized private not-for-profit institution.
Not only is University of New England a great value, but it is also ranked #5 in Maine for overall quality. The average cost without aid for the school is $55,470 a year for undergraduates. The average cost without aid for the school is $45,002 per year for graduate students.
Thomas College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Thomas College is located in Waterville, Maine and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Thomas College is ranked #13 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost without aid for the school is $40,888 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $40,888 a year.
Bowdoin College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking. Located in Brunswick, Maine, the school is a small private not-for-profit institution.
Bowdoin College has the honor of being ranked #1 in Maine for overall quality on top of being a good value. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $74,220 a year. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $15,898 a year.
With a ranking of #17, Bates College did quite well on the 2024 Best Colleges for the Money in Maine list. Bates is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lewiston, Maine.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Bates College is ranked #3 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost without aid for the school is $75,720 a year for undergraduates. The average cost to attend the school for graduate students if you don’t receive any aid is $16,658 a year.
Colby College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Colleges for the Money in Maine ranking. Colby is located in Waterville, Maine and has a small student population. It is a private not-for-profit school.
In addition to being included on this ranking as a good value, Colby College is ranked #2 for quality in the state of Maine. The average cost for undergraduates to attend the school if you don’t receive any aid is $76,965 a year. The average cost without aid for the school is $15,745 per year for graduate students.
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Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 18 schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.