Southern Maine Community College
#8 Best Computer Science Colleges in Maine- Graduation Rate
- 24% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,661 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,086 B
- 35% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,675
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Computer Science Colleges in Maine.
Every $1 spent returns $21.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $918,924.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduation of 24% — 57% below the national average.
-
Every $1 invested returns $21.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Southern Maine Community College Matters
Southern Maine Community College is a public community college in South Portland, ME and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity 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
- 5,675
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Business & Marketing, Mechanic & Repair Tech
Why students choose Southern 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 $11,086 a year after grants and scholarships — 35% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,661 ten years after enrolling — 2% above the typical college, against $10,331 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.21 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Southern Maine Community College is a great fit for students looking for hands-on training and a practical education in fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. With an enrollment of about 5,675 students, it’s a welcoming community where students can dive into specific programs that prepare them for the workforce. The focus here is on skills that translate directly into jobs, giving students a chance to build a future in various industries.
When it comes to life after graduation, graduates earn a median income of $41,661 a decade later. That’s a solid number, especially for those entering fields that are often in demand. Affordability plays a significant role too, with a net price of $11,086 after financial aid, making it accessible for many. About 30% of students receive Pell Grants, which can further ease the financial burden, allowing more individuals to pursue their goals without overwhelming debt.
Looking at the debt load, the median debt stands at $10,331, which is quite manageable compared to the potential earnings. Those who tend to thrive at Southern Maine Community College often have a clear idea of their career path and are ready to engage in the hands-on learning that these programs emphasize. It’s a place for motivated individuals ready to take the next step, armed with practical skills and a supportive community.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Southern 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 Southern Maine Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in South Portland, Maine, Southern Maine Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
- Retention Rate
- 57%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 25%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,954
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 20:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.46
- First-Gen Students
- 39%
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 Southern Maine Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Maine Community College is $7,036, 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 $11,086. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,654 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,331 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,156
- Out-of-State
- $7,036
- Avg Net Price
- $11,086
- Median Debt
- $10,331
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 12%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,654
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,090
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,666
- Family Income $110K+
- $14,660
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 Southern 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 Southern Maine Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Maine Community College report median earnings of $41,661, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,780
- 8 Years
- $38,965
- 10 Years
- $41,661
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (94)
- 11%
- 100% (94)
- 11%
- 100% (94)
- 11%
- 100% (94)
- 11%
How Southern 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 Southern Maine Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Southern Maine Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,086/year ($44,344 total). Graduates earn $41,661 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $963,268 in total earnings — a net gain of $918,924 (21.7× your investment). The median debt is $10,331, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 24% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $44,344
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $963,268
- Net Return
- $918,924
- ROI Multiple
- 21.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,086
- Median Debt
- $10,331
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 24%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $1,890,324
- Investment Income
- $-239,386
Top Programs
The fields Southern 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.
- Health Professions 27% $66,956 early-career
- Humanities 16%
- Business & Marketing 11% $36,132 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 6% $50,183 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 6% $40,390 early-career
- Criminal Justice 6% $63,895 early-career
- Construction Trades 5%
- Education 5% $28,558 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 Southern 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 Southern Maine Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in South Portland, Maine, Southern Maine Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 24%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Southern Maine Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Southern Maine Community College is $7,036, 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 $11,086. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,654 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,331 in federal student loans.
Is Southern Maine Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Southern Maine Community College report median earnings of $41,661, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Southern 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 high at Southern Maine Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.21, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Southern Maine Community College.
- Linn-Benton Community CollegeAlbany, OR · Close peer27% grad $41,363 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Monterey Peninsula CollegeMonterey, CA · Close peer35% grad $42,176 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Jefferson State Community CollegeBirmingham, AL · Close peer24% grad $40,719 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Contra Costa CollegeSan Pablo, CA · Close peer30% grad $40,850 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Volunteer State Community CollegeGallatin, TN · Close peer26% grad $41,150 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Texas CollegeKilleen, TX · Close peer13% grad $40,995 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Southern 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 high at Southern Maine Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.21, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note