Rankings / By State (Affordable)
Most Affordable Colleges in Maine
- 24
- Schools
- $50,269
- Avg. Earnings
- 52%
- Avg. Graduation
- $16,460
- Avg. Net Price
- $19,717
- Avg. Debt
CollegeRanker Research
What Surprised Us Most
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Median graduate earnings across these 24 schools run from $34,407 to $89,964, a 2.6× gap. The category label alone says little about payoff.
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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.
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Kennebec Valley Community College is the lowest-cost school here at $3,910 a year in net price.
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Bowdoin College graduates 95% of its students, versus a 52% average across the list. Completion, more than selectivity, signals whether a degree actually gets finished.
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York County Community College carries the healthiest debt load, with graduates owing just 0.20× their annual earnings.
Surprising Comparisons
- #1 Kennebec Valley Community College ($36,035 earnings) outranks the list's highest earner, Maine Maritime Academy ($89,964), because it does more on mobility and cost.
- Kennebec Valley Community College costs $3,910 a year and Maine College of Art & Design costs $38,338. Yet their graduates earn $36,035 and $40,778, nowhere near the $34,428 price gap.
- On value, Kennebec Valley Community College beats Maine Maritime Academy: 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 Bowdoin College. 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
These schools are ranked on outcomes that compound: graduate earnings, upward mobility, debt, and value, all drawn from federal tax records and Scorecard data rather than reputation surveys. The list rewards results over prestige, led by institutions whose graduates earn a median of about $45K ten years after enrollment.
How we measure this — full methodology →How we rank · 4 pillars
Federal-source data only. Build your own weighting →
Data Behind This Page Updated 2026-06-15
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 Kennebec Valley Community College #1 overall | $36,035 ▼ -28% vs avg | $3,910 | 44% | 83 |
| 2 York County Community College #2 overall | $44,873 ▼ -11% vs avg | $5,875 | 31% | 80 |
| 3 University of Maine at Presque Isle #3 overall | $40,956 ▼ -19% vs avg | $7,035 | 45% | 79 |
| $51,077 ▲ +2% vs avg | $7,482 | 40% | 79 | |
| $43,348 ▼ -14% vs avg | $7,181 | 38% | 78 |
Score uses our 4-pillar methodology. Earnings % is vs. this list's average.
See full ranking →Executive Summary
Most Affordable Colleges in Maine
This analysis ranks 24 institutions on graduate earnings, social mobility, completion, and cost. Across the list, alumni earn a median of $50,269 ten years after enrolling, against an average graduation rate of 52% and an average net price of $16,460.
Key takeaways
- Strongest Earnings-to-Cost Ratio: Kennebec Valley Community College — Net Price: $3,910 | Graduation Rate: 44%
- Strongest Completion Outcomes: Bowdoin College — 95% completion rate
- Highest Earnings Generator: Maine Maritime Academy — Median alumni earnings: $89,964
CollegeRanker Primary Research
The most expensive quartile of colleges costs 373% more than the most affordable — but their graduates earn just 34% more.
Affordability & ROI Analysis
What does this ranking tell us about getting a real return on a degree?
$44,653
Median earnings (10yr)
49%
Median graduation rate
$15,628
Median net price
1.7%
Avg. mobility rate
A value ranking asks the question families actually care about: which school delivers the strongest outcome for the least cost and debt. The winners are rarely the cheapest schools or the highest earners. They are the ones that pair a low net price, what students pay after grants, with graduates who go on to earn. That is the definition of return on investment.
Across the 24 schools on this list, graduates earn a median of $44,653 ten years after they first enrolled. The median graduation rate is 49%. Net price, what students pay after grants, runs a median of $15,628 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 1.7%.
What we’re seeing: value clusters at schools that hold net price down without sacrificing earnings. The median net price here is $15,628, with graduates earning a median of $44,653 ten years after enrollment. Strong results without heavy debt: that combination is the quiet argument for where higher education is headed.
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
Kennebec Valley Community College lands at #1 with a 83/100 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, 28% 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 #2
York County Community College lands at #2 with a 80/100 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, 11% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Presque Isle, ME · 100% accepted · $7,035 net
Why it ranks #3
University of Maine at Presque Isle lands at #3 with a 79/100 composite, led by value per dollar (78/100) and pulled down by social mobility (47/100). Graduates earn a median $40,956 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $7,035 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 #4
University of Maine at Fort Kent lands at #4 with a 79/100 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, 2% 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
Northern Maine Community College lands at #5 with a 78/100 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, 14% 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 #6
Central Maine Community College lands at #6 with a 78/100 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, 16% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #7
Washington County Community College lands at #7 with a 75/100 composite, led by value per dollar (89/100) and pulled down by social mobility (40/100). Graduates earn a median $34,407 a decade after enrolling, 32% below this list's average, and net price runs $5,149 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 #8
Eastern Maine Community College lands at #8 with a 75/100 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, 17% 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 #9
Southern Maine Community College lands at #9 with a 71/100 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, 17% 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
University of Maine at Augusta lands at #10 with a 70/100 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, 20% 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 puts it near the top, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #11
Bowdoin College lands at #11 with a 69/100 composite, led by academic quality (93/100) and pulled down by economic outcomes (79/100). Graduates earn a median $82,735 a decade after enrolling, 65% above this list's average, and net price runs $14,398 a year, well under 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 #12
University of Southern Maine lands at #12 with a 69/100 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, 1% below this list's average, and net price runs $13,596 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
Colby College lands at #13 with a 64/100 composite, led by academic quality (90/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (76/100). Graduates earn a median $80,490 a decade after enrolling, 60% above this list's average, and net price runs $17,180 a year. 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 63/100 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, 12% below this list's average, and net price runs $16,857 a year. 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
University of Maine lands at #15 with a 61/100 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, 3% below this list's average, and net price runs $17,510 a year. 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 #16
Thomas College lands at #16 with a 59/100 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, 10% 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #17
Husson University lands at #17 with a 56/100 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, 10% 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 carries it up the list, even with below-average salaries.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #18
Unity Environmental University lands at #18 with a 55/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (55/100) and pulled down by academic quality (36/100). Graduates earn a median $37,852 a decade after enrolling, 25% below this list's average, and net price runs $19,104 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #19
Maine Maritime Academy lands at #19 with a 51/100 composite, led by social mobility (81/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (55/100). Graduates earn a median $89,964 a decade after enrolling, 79% above this list's average, and net price runs $23,414 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.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #20
College of the Atlantic lands at #20 with a 46/100 composite, led by academic quality (79/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (45/100). Graduates earn a median $40,264 a decade after enrolling, 20% below this list's average, and net price runs $25,184 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 #21
Saint Joseph's College of Maine lands at #21 with a 42/100 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, 17% 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 #22
Bates College lands at #22 with a 40/100 composite, led by academic quality (89/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (71/100). Graduates earn a median $69,498 a decade after enrolling, 38% above this list's average, and net price runs $29,351 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 #23
University of New England lands at #23 with a 22/100 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, 11% 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 carries it up the list.
Pillar breakdown
Why it ranks #24
Maine College of Art & Design lands at #24 with a 21/100 composite, led by economic outcomes (53/100) and pulled down by value per dollar (25/100). Graduates earn a median $40,778 a decade after enrolling, 19% below this list's average, and net price runs $38,338 a year, above the field. Strong earnings drive the rank, but with mobility weighted 35% and value 20%, salary alone can only take a school so far.
Pillar breakdown
Cut it by what you care about
The same 24 schools, re-ranked by the outcome that matters to you.
Where the programs are
Choosing a college can feel overwhelming, especially when balancing quality and cost. For students in Maine, this list highlights the most affordable colleges that also provide a pathway to good jobs after graduation. With an average net price of just over $5,000, these schools make higher education more accessible.
What sets these institutions apart is not just their low tuition, but also their outcomes in terms of earnings and graduation rates. The schools on this list have average earnings of $50,269, with graduation rates averaging 52%. This means students are not only paying less, but they also have a solid chance of completing their degree and earning a decent salary afterward.
Take Kennebec Valley Community College and the University of Maine at Fort Kent, for example. Kennebec has a low net price of $3,910 but a lower graduation rate of 44%, while Fort Kent charges slightly more at $7,482 but has higher earnings potential at $51,077. This contrast highlights the importance of evaluating both cost and outcomes when making a decision about higher education in Maine.
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
Social mobility carries the heaviest weight in this ranking, and the measure comes from Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card, built from more than 30 million anonymized tax records. Across the 7 schools here with that data, the average mobility rate is 1.7%. That figure is the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top. Maine Maritime Academy leads the group at 3.5%, with Thomas College (3%) and Husson University (2%) close behind.
Access varies widely. On average, 6.5% of students at these schools come from families in the bottom income quintile. Husson University enrolls the most, at 13.4%, a sign it is reaching the students mobility is meant to lift. A high mobility rate paired with strong access is the combination that changes a generation's trajectory.
For the low-income students who do enroll, the success rate (the odds of reaching the top quintile) averages 35.3% across the list, peaking at 60.8% at Colby College.
These campuses can also be measured on social capital: the cross-class friendships Opportunity Insights links to long-run economic outcomes. Economic connectedness here averages 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm, and Colby College is highest at 1.83.
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
When comparing Kennebec Valley Community College and University of Maine at Presque Isle, we see stark differences in both cost and outcomes. Kennebec has a net price of only $3,910, but its graduation rate is 44%. In contrast, Presque Isle charges $7,035, but with a higher graduation rate of 45% and similar earnings potential of $40,956. This shows how a slightly higher investment can lead to better completion rates and future earnings.
After reviewing the list, consider how these numbers match your personal priorities. Think about factors like program offerings, campus culture, and location. It’s important to weigh the financial aspects against what you want out of your college experience. For instance, if a lower debt burden is crucial, a community college may be the right choice, but if graduating on time and landing a job matters more, a school with a higher graduation rate might be worth the extra cost.
Ultimately, these data points reflect broader trends in higher education. A degree can lead to better job stability and financial security, but the path varies significantly by institution. Families need to keep this in mind as they make choices that will impact their futures. Each decision is a step toward a stable life, and understanding the tradeoffs can guide you toward the right choice.
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
Most Affordable Colleges in Maine: Your Questions, Answered
What is the #1 school in the Most Affordable Colleges in Maine ranking? +
Kennebec Valley Community College in Fairfield, ME ranks #1 in our 2026 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine ranking. It earns the top spot on the strength of a median $36,035 in graduate earnings ten years after enrollment and a 44% 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? +
Maine Maritime Academy posts the highest median earnings on this list: $89,964 ten years after enrollment, well above the $50,269 average across the 24 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? +
Bowdoin College has the highest graduation rate in this ranking at 95%, compared with a 52% 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 $16,460 a year across the 24 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 Most Affordable 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 24 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
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