Central Maine Community College
#6 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine- Graduation Rate
- 29% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,448 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,975 A-
- 59% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,952
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 44.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $44.6 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Most Affordable Colleges in Maine.
Every $1 spent returns $44.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,216,406.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 29% — 49% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $44.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Central Maine Community College Matters
Central Maine Community College is a public community college in Auburn, ME and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,952
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Humanities, Health Professions, Construction Trades
Why students choose Central Maine Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,975 a year after grants and scholarships — 59% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,448 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.04 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Central Maine Community College, located in Auburn, ME, caters to a diverse range of students seeking practical, career-oriented education. With around 2,952 enrolled, the college stands out for its focus on programs in Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Technology, and Criminal Justice. This makes it a solid choice for those looking to gain skills that are in demand in the local job market.
After graduation, students can expect to earn an average of $42,448 within ten years, which reflects a steady return on their educational investment. While the graduation rate is 29%, many graduates find meaningful employment in their fields. The affordability of Central Maine Community College is also an advantage, with a net price of $6,975 after aid. This financial accessibility can make a significant difference for students as they transition into the workforce.
When it comes to the practical aspects of attending, students typically graduate with a median debt of $12,000. This manageable debt load combined with the supportive community environment helps many students thrive, especially those who are motivated to enter the workforce quickly. With a significant percentage of students receiving Pell Grants—35%—the college demonstrates a commitment to serving individuals from various economic backgrounds.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Central Maine Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Maine Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Auburn, Maine, Central Maine Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 28%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,682
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 47%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Maine Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Maine Community College is $7,020, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,975. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,470 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,140
- Out-of-State
- $7,020
- Avg Net Price
- $6,975
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 14%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,470
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $5,970
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $8,105
- Family Income $110K+
- $11,672
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Central Maine Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Central Maine Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Maine Community College report median earnings of $42,448, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $31,977
- 8 Years
- $39,911
- 10 Years
- $42,448
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (68)
- 14%
- 100% (68)
- 14%
- 100% (68)
- 14%
- 100% (68)
- 14%
How Central Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Central Maine Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Central Maine Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,975/year ($27,900 total). Graduates earn $42,448 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,244,306 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,216,406 (44.6× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 29% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $27,900
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,244,306
- Net Return
- $1,216,406
- ROI Multiple
- 44.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,975
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,382,126
- Federal Grants
- $5,524,152
- Investment Income
- $-67,896
Top Programs
The fields Central Maine Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 20% $42,081 early-career
- Humanities 18%
- Health Professions 10% $59,436 early-career
- Construction Trades 8%
- Criminal Justice 7% $40,390 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 5% $45,066 early-career
- Education 4% $25,014 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 4% $40,898 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Central Maine Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Central Maine Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Auburn, Maine, Central Maine Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 29%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Central Maine Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Central Maine Community College is $7,020, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,975. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,470 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Central Maine Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Central Maine Community College report median earnings of $42,448, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Central Maine Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Central Maine Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Central Maine Community College.
- Niagara County Community CollegeSanborn, NY · Close peer31% grad $42,285 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Hagerstown Community CollegeHagerstown, MD · Close peer38% grad $41,615 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Cape Cod Community CollegeWest Barnstable, MA · Close peer22% grad $43,670 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mount Wachusett Community CollegeGardner, MA · Close peer27% grad $41,118 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Mendocino CollegeUkiah, CA · Close peer28% grad $40,243 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Morton CollegeCicero, IL · Close peer30% grad $42,406 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Central Maine Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Central Maine Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.04, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note