University of Maine
#5 Best Education Colleges in Maine- Graduation Rate
- 56% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $48,653 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $17,510 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 97% F
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 16.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Best Education Colleges in Maine.
Every $1 spent returns $16.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,049,053.
What The Data Says
-
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $16.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why University of Maine Matters
University of Maine is a public research university in Orono, ME and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a top-tier research enterprise and a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R1 · Very High Research
- Enrollment
- 8,496
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Engineering, Education, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose University of Maine
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
Accessible — admits about 97% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,510 a year after grants and scholarships — 2% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $48,653 ten years after enrolling — 19% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.57 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With an acceptance rate of 97%, the University of Maine in Orono is an accessible choice for many students looking to pursue a solid education in fields like Business & Marketing, Engineering, Education, Biology & Biomedical, and Social Sciences. It’s a good fit for those who appreciate a welcoming campus atmosphere and are interested in a range of practical programs. The diverse academic offerings mean that students can find their niche while still enjoying a close-knit community.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn around $48,653 within ten years. This figure is significant as it reflects the potential for a stable income, particularly for graduates in high-demand fields like engineering and business. While the graduation rate sits at 56%, many students still find their way into rewarding careers. It’s important to consider the affordability of the education here, which aligns with many students' financial realities.
When it comes to costs, the net price after aid is about $17,510, and the median debt for graduates is around $25,000. This debt level is manageable for many, especially given the earning potential after graduation. Students who thrive here often value community engagement and hands-on learning, as well as a supportive environment that encourages personal and academic growth.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective University of Maine 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 University of Maine? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orono, Maine, University of Maine admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 97%
- Retention Rate
- 83%
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- Full-Time Faculty
- 70%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,425
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.32
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 15,021
- Admitted
- 14,114
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard University of Maine is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 15% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 15%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 16%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 2%
- of enrolled freshmen
Test-optional, in practice. Only about 18% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.
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 University of Maine? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Maine is $36,756, 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 $17,510. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,642 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $13,326
- Out-of-State
- $36,756
- Avg Net Price
- $17,510
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 42%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,642
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $13,280
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,631
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,018
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 University of Maine — 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 University of Maine Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Maine earn a median of $48,653, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,124
- 8 Years
- $47,778
- 10 Years
- $48,653
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.51x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (820)
- 38%
- 100% (820)
- 38%
- 100% (820)
- 38%
- 100% (820)
- 38%
How University 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 University of Maine Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, University of Maine delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,510/year ($70,040 total). Graduates earn $48,653 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,119,093 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,049,053 (16.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,040
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,119,093
- Net Return
- $1,049,053
- ROI Multiple
- 16.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,510
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 56%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-13,112,000
Top Programs
The fields University of Maine 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 15% $50,271 early-career
- Engineering 12% $87,614 early-career
- Education 8% $40,073 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 8% $33,722 early-career
- Health Professions 7% $72,739 early-career
- Psychology 6% $33,796 early-career
- Social Sciences 5% $54,429 early-career
- Communications 4% $42,081 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 University of Maine'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+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into University of Maine? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Orono, Maine, University of Maine admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 97%. Admitted students typically arrive with a mid-range ACT score around 26. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend University of Maine? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at University of Maine is $36,756, 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 $17,510. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,642 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is University of Maine Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of University of Maine earn a median of $48,653, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is University of Maine? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Maine. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Is University of Maine really test-optional?
In practice, yes. Only about 18% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at University of Maine (2024-25 Common Data Set).
What percentage of admitted students enroll at University of Maine?
About 15% of admitted students choose to enroll at University of Maine — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to University of Maine.
- University of ToledoToledo, OH · Close peer56% grad $50,632 earn 92% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Stephen F Austin State UniversityNacogdoches, TX · Close peer53% grad $49,634 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Pennsylvania Western UniversityCalifornia, PA · Close peer51% grad $47,295 earn 94% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Central ArkansasConway, AR · Close peer53% grad $45,938 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Commonwealth University of PennsylvaniaBloomsburg, PA · Close peer54% grad $52,416 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Colorado Colorado SpringsColorado Springs, CO · Close peer46% grad $54,659 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is University of Maine? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at University of Maine. Its economic connectedness score is 1.57, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note