Rankings / By State
Best Nursing Colleges in Maine
- 15
- Schools
- $45,968
- Avg. Earnings
- 44%
- Avg. Graduation
- $14,392
- Avg. Net Price
- $18,768
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
-
Median graduate earnings across these 15 schools run from $36,035 to $59,045, a 1.6× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
-
Kennebec Valley Community College delivers the most for the money: roughly $36,035 in median earnings against $3,910 a year in net price, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio on the list.
-
Kennebec Valley Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $3,910 a year in net price.
-
Saint Joseph's College of Maine graduates 67% of its students, versus a 44% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
-
York County Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.20× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 University of New England ($55,921 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Saint Joseph's College of Maine ($59,045), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Kennebec Valley Community College costs $3,910 a year and University of New England costs $38,107. Yet their graduates earn $36,035 and $55,921, nowhere near the $34,197 price gap.
- On value, Kennebec Valley Community College beats Saint Joseph's College of Maine: comparable career payoff at a fraction of the net price.
The Takeaway
The schools that win this ranking are not the priciest or the most selective. They turn students into earners without burying them in debt, which is exactly what our outcomes-first methodology is built to surface.
What This Means for Students
If you are choosing from this list, start with Kennebec Valley Community College and Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Pull each school's net price for your income band, weigh projected earnings against the debt you would take on, and let payoff rather than prestige drive your shortlist.
Why this ranking matters
Healthcare is one of the higher-return fields in the economy, but the payoff depends heavily on where you study it. Graduates of these programs earn a median of about $45K within a decade, and registered nurse roles are projected to grow 6%. We rank programs by the outcomes they produce for graduates, not by reputation.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-07-13
Source datasets
Methodology
Schools are scored on the CollegeRanker 4-Pillar Algorithm: Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25–35%), Academic Quality (15–20%), and Value (20–25%). Every weight is published and every figure traces to a public dataset.
See the full methodology and weights →Confidence notes
- Earnings, completion, and debt figures come from federal administrative records — tax data and student-aid filings — not surveys or self-reports, the highest-confidence tier of education data available.
- Social-mobility estimates are drawn from de-identified tax records covering more than 30 million students (Opportunity Insights).
- Where an institution is missing a metric, it is excluded from that metric rather than imputed, so averages are never inflated by guesses.
Limitations
- Federal earnings data primarily cover students who received federal financial aid; outcomes for non-aided students may differ.
- Earnings are measured roughly ten years after enrollment, so they describe how earlier cohorts fared — historical outcomes, not guarantees of future results.
- An institution's field-of-study mix affects raw earnings; scores reflect measured outcomes and are not fully major-adjusted unless explicitly noted.
- Net price is an average; the actual cost a given student pays varies widely by family income.
At a Glance
How the Top Schools Compare
| School | Earnings | Net Price | Graduation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 University of New England #1 overall | $55,921 ▲ +22% vs avg | $38,107 | 65% | 75 |
| 2 Husson University #2 overall | $45,025 ▼ -2% vs avg | $21,005 | 58% | 72 |
| 3 Saint Joseph's College of Maine #3 overall | $59,045 ▲ +28% vs avg | $27,555 | 67% | 69 |
| $51,077 ▲ +11% vs avg | $7,482 | 40% | 69 | |
| $49,958 ▲ +9% vs avg | $13,596 | 43% | 67 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Best Nursing Colleges in Maine
This analysis ranks 15 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $45,968 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 44% and an average net price of $14,392.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Kennebec Valley Community College — Net Price: $3,910 | Graduation Rate: 44%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Saint Joseph's College of Maine — 67% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Saint Joseph's College of Maine — Median alumni earnings: $59,045
CollegeRanker Primary Research
Private nonprofit colleges cost 110% more in net price than publics, while their graduates earn 21% more.
Healthcare Workforce Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about the U.S. healthcare workforce?
$44,873
Median earnings (10yr)
43%
Median graduation rate
$11,086
Median net price
2.0%
Avg. mobility rate
Health-professions programs sit at the center of one of the country’s most acute labor stories. An aging population and chronic shortages in nursing and allied health mean these programs are, in effect, staffing the health system. The schools that rise here pair classroom training with real clinical placements and strong licensure pass rates. That pairing is the difference between holding a credential and holding a job.
Across the 15 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $44,873 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 43%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $11,086 a year, with about $20,160 in median federal debt at graduation. An average of 29% of students receive Pell grants, and the typical school moves low-income students into the top income quintile at a rate of 2.0%.
What we’re seeing: demographic pressure keeps demand high, and programs with embedded clinical networks convert that demand into employment fastest. University of New England leads the list, and graduates across these programs earn a median of $44,873 ten years after enrollment. The constraint is not jobs. It is clinical capacity and licensure throughput, and that is where the strongest programs pull away.
The podium
Build your ranking
Drag a pillar — schools re-rank live.
Tip: Check the box on any 2–4 schools below to compare them side by side.
Full rankings
Why it ranks #1
University of New England lands at #1 with a 75/100 composite, led by social mobility (86/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (32/100). Graduates earn a median $55,921 a decade after enrolling, 22% above this list's average, and net price runs $38,107 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #2
Husson University lands at #2 with a 72/100 composite, led by social mobility (83/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (46/100). Graduates earn a median $45,025 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $21,005 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #3
Saint Joseph's College of Maine lands at #3 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (76/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (42/100). Graduates earn a median $59,045 a decade after enrolling, 28% above this list's average, and net price runs $27,555 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #4
University of Maine at Fort Kent lands at #4 with a 69/100 composite, led by value per dollar (76/100) and pulled down by social mobility (50/100). Graduates earn a median $51,077 a decade after enrolling, 11% above this list's average, and net price runs $7,482 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #5
University of Southern Maine lands at #5 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (68/100) and pulled down by academic quality (53/100). Graduates earn a median $49,958 a decade after enrolling, 9% above this list's average, and net price runs $13,596 a year. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #6
Northern Maine Community College lands at #6 with a 67/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (49/100). Graduates earn a median $43,348 a decade after enrolling, 6% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,181 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Thomas College lands at #7 with a 66/100 composite, led by social mobility (80/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (60/100). Graduates earn a median $44,991 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $18,885 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #8
Kennebec Valley Community College lands at #8 with a 65/100 composite, led by value per dollar (85/100) and pulled down by academic quality (46/100). Graduates earn a median $36,035 a decade after enrolling, 22% below this list's average, and net price runs $3,910 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #9
Southern Maine Community College lands at #9 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by academic quality (39/100). Graduates earn a median $41,661 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $11,086 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #10
Eastern Maine Community College lands at #10 with a 63/100 composite, led by value per dollar (80/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $41,704 a decade after enrolling, 9% below this list's average, and net price runs $8,928 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
York County Community College lands at #11 with a 62/100 composite, led by value per dollar (88/100) and pulled down by academic quality (35/100). Graduates earn a median $44,873 a decade after enrolling, 2% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,875 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #12
University of Maine at Augusta lands at #12 with a 61/100 composite, led by value per dollar (69/100) and pulled down by academic quality (42/100). Graduates earn a median $40,342 a decade after enrolling, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $10,924 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #13
University of Maine lands at #13 with a 59/100 composite, led by academic quality (64/100) and pulled down by social mobility (56/100). Graduates earn a median $48,653 a decade after enrolling, 6% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,510 a year, above the field. Academics score well here, yet mobility (35%) and value (20%) carry the most weight, so outcome-per-dollar sets the final position.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #14
University of Maine at Farmington lands at #14 with a 59/100 composite, led by social mobility (59/100) and pulled down by academic quality (59/100). Graduates earn a median $44,433 a decade after enrolling, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,857 a year, above the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that mobility is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #15
Central Maine Community College lands at #15 with a 55/100 composite, led by value per dollar (82/100) and pulled down by academic quality (40/100). Graduates earn a median $42,448 a decade after enrolling, 8% below this list's average, and net price runs $6,975 a year, well under the field. Because the methodology weights social mobility (35%) and value (20%) above prestige, that low cost is what carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 15 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs — and the jobs are
Where these graduates work
Graduates of these programs most often become Registered Nurses and related roles — a field with $86,070 median pay and 6% projected growth.
See the Registered Nurse career guide →Nursing programs in Maine are attracting attention for their potential to launch rewarding careers in healthcare. With a growing demand for healthcare professionals, students are weighing their options at colleges that prepare them for this vital field.
What sets the best nursing colleges apart are their outcomes, particularly in terms of graduate earnings, completion rates, debt levels, and mobility. The schools listed below have demonstrated strong performance across these key metrics, offering a clearer picture of what students can expect after graduation.
For instance, the University of Maine at Fort Kent stands out with impressive earnings of $51,077 and a graduation rate of 40%. In contrast, Northern Maine Community College, while also offering a nursing program, has lower earnings at $43,348 and a slightly lower graduation rate of 38%. These differences highlight the importance of not only the financial returns but also the completion rates when making a choice.
The story behind the ranking
A ranking gives you an order; these charts give you the shape. They show how this group of schools spreads across the four things that decide whether a degree pays off — what graduates earn, whether they finish, how far they move up, and what it costs. Look for the standouts, the outliers, and the trade-offs the list alone can't show.
Earnings Outcomes
What graduates earn 10 years after enrolling. Data from College Scorecard.
Distribution of Median Earnings
Earnings vs. Net Price
Top-left = best value. Top-ranked schools are highlighted.
Completion & Access
Graduation rates and who gets in. Data from College Scorecard & IPEDS.
Graduation Rates
Pell Grant Rate vs. Graduation Rate
Right = more low-income students. Higher = more graduate.
What the Mobility Data Says
The backbone of this ranking is social-mobility data from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, which draws on more than 30 million tax records. A school's mobility rate is the share of its students who move from the bottom income quintile to the top. Among the 3 schools on this list with available data, that rate averages 2%. Thomas College leads the group at 3%, with Husson University (2%) and University of New England (1.1%) close behind.
Who gets in matters as much as what happens after. Across these schools, an average of 10.6% of students start in the bottom income quintile. Husson University leads at 13.4%, which signals an admissions door that is actually open to low-income students. Schools that pair high access with high mobility are the ones driving generational change.
Once low-income students enroll, their odds of reaching the top income quintile average 19.3% across this list. Thomas College posts the highest success rate at 22.8%. Access without completion and career momentum is an incomplete picture, and this is the number that completes it.
Mobility, access, and social-capital figures from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card & the Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas.
Cost & Debt
What families actually pay and what students owe. Data from College Scorecard.
Median Debt at Graduation
One noticeable trend is the earnings potential versus debt levels among nursing programs. Take Saint Joseph's College of Maine, for example; despite having the highest earnings at $59,045, it also comes with a significant debt burden of $27,000. In contrast, Kennebec Valley Community College has lower earnings at $36,035 but a much lower debt level of $13,255, making it a more affordable option.
As you consider these schools, think about what matters most for your situation. Are you prioritizing lower debt, or are you willing to invest more upfront for potentially higher earnings? Location and campus culture are also key factors that could influence your choice, so weigh the financial data against your personal preferences and career goals.
Ultimately, the path from college to a stable life hinges on making informed decisions. Families face the challenge of balancing costs with quality education, and each choice impacts future opportunities. Every decision counts toward building a secure future, and understanding these programs is a crucial step.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Nursing Colleges in Maine: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Best Nursing Colleges in Maine ranking? +
University of New England in Biddeford, ME ranks #1 in our 2026 Best Nursing Colleges in Maine ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $55,921 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 65% graduation rate. Our score is built entirely from federal data on graduation rates, graduate earnings, debt, and social mobility. Reputation surveys play no part.
Which school has the highest graduate earnings? +
Saint Joseph's College of Maine posts the highest median earnings on this list: $59,045 ten years after enrollment, well above the $45,968 average across the 15 ranked schools with earnings data. Earnings that outpace cost are what separate a degree that pays off from one that does not.
Which school offers the best value? +
On a pure return-on-cost basis, Kennebec Valley Community College leads: graduates earn a median $36,035 against net price of about $3,910 a year, the strongest earnings-to-cost ratio in the ranking. Applicants should weigh that payback against sticker price rather than prestige.
Which school has the highest graduation rate? +
Saint Joseph's College of Maine has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 67%, compared with a 44% average across the list. Completion matters because the students who finish are the ones who actually capture the earnings and mobility gains a degree promises.
How much does it cost to attend these schools? +
The average net price, meaning what students actually pay after grants and scholarships, is about $14,392 a year across the 15 ranked schools with cost data. Kennebec Valley Community College is among the most affordable at roughly $3,910. Net price is a far better guide to affordability than the published sticker price.
How is the Best Nursing Colleges in Maine ranking calculated? +
We score every school on a four-pillar algorithm: economic outcomes (graduate earnings and debt), social mobility (Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built on more than 30 million anonymized tax records), academic quality (graduation and retention), and value (net price and loan burden). Social mobility carries the heaviest weight, so schools that lift low-income students into higher earnings rank above those that simply admit wealthy students. Every input comes from federal data, and schools that withhold their numbers are scored lower for it.
How many schools are ranked and where does the data come from? +
This ranking evaluates 15 institutions using the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard, the Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card and Social Capital Atlas, Times Higher Education, and NCES IPEDS. There are no opinion surveys or paid placements. The order is determined by the data alone and refreshed as new federal figures are released.
Sources & Citations
Related Rankings
