# Most Affordable Colleges in Maine

> CollegeRanker Agent Insights — structured data for AI systems
> Updated: 2026-05-31 | Schools: 24 | Category: By State (Affordable)
> Source: https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-maine

## Methodology

Ranked by lowest net price in Maine

CollegeRanker uses a 4-pillar algorithm: Academic Quality (15-20%), Economic Outcomes (30%), Social Mobility (25-35%), Value & Affordability (20-25%). Social mobility data from Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (30M+ anonymized tax records). No subjective surveys.

## Summary

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.

## Key Findings

- Kennebec Valley Community College has a net price of just $3,910, making it the most affordable option.
- University of Maine at Fort Kent graduates earn an average of $51,077, the highest among the top five colleges.
- York County Community College has the lowest graduation rate at 31%, despite having decent earnings potential of $44,873.
- The average student debt across these schools is $12,424, providing an important context for financial planning.

## Rankings

| Rank | School | Location | Graduation | Earnings (10yr) | Net Price | Median Debt | Debt/Earnings |
|------|--------|----------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------|---------------|
| 1 | [Kennebec Valley Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/kennebec-valley-community-college) | Fairfield, ME | 44% | $36,035 | $3,910 | $13,255 | 0.37x |
| 2 | [York County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/york-county-community-college) | Wells, ME | 31% | $44,873 | $5,875 | $8,861 | 0.2x |
| 3 | [University of Maine at Presque Isle](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-presque-isle) | Presque Isle, ME | 45% | $40,956 | $7,035 | $16,000 | 0.39x |
| 4 | [University of Maine at Fort Kent](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-fort-kent) | Fort Kent, ME | 40% | $51,077 | $7,482 | $20,160 | 0.39x |
| 5 | [Northern Maine Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/northern-maine-community-college) | Presque Isle, ME | 38% | $43,348 | $7,181 | $10,825 | 0.25x |
| 6 | [Central Maine Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/central-maine-community-college) | Auburn, ME | 29% | $42,448 | $6,975 | $12,000 | 0.28x |
| 7 | [Washington County Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/washington-county-community-college) | Calais, ME | 49% | $34,407 | $5,149 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 | [Eastern Maine Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/eastern-maine-community-college) | Bangor, ME | 33% | $41,704 | $8,928 | $11,293 | 0.27x |
| 9 | [Southern Maine Community College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/southern-maine-community-college) | South Portland, ME | 24% | $41,661 | $11,086 | $10,331 | 0.25x |
| 10 | [University of Maine at Augusta](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-augusta) | Augusta, ME | 25% | $40,342 | $10,924 | $22,734 | 0.56x |
| 11 | [Bowdoin College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bowdoin-college) | Brunswick, ME | 95% | $82,735 | $14,398 | $18,500 | 0.22x |
| 12 | [University of Southern Maine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-southern-maine) | Portland, ME | 43% | $49,958 | $13,596 | $19,060 | 0.38x |
| 13 | [Colby College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/colby-college) | Waterville, ME | 89% | $80,490 | $17,180 | $19,157 | 0.24x |
| 14 | [University of Maine at Farmington](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine-at-farmington) | Farmington, ME | 52% | $44,433 | $16,857 | $24,499 | 0.55x |
| 15 | [University of Maine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-maine) | Orono, ME | 56% | $48,653 | $17,510 | $25,000 | 0.51x |
| 16 | [Thomas College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/thomas-college) | Waterville, ME | 53% | $44,991 | $18,885 | $24,250 | 0.54x |
| 17 | [Husson University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/husson-university) | Bangor, ME | 58% | $45,025 | $21,005 | $27,000 | 0.6x |
| 18 | [Unity Environmental University](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/unity-environmental-university) | New Gloucester, ME | 44% | $37,852 | $19,104 | $25,000 | 0.66x |
| 19 | [Maine Maritime Academy](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maine-maritime-academy) | Castine, ME | 60% | $89,964 | $23,414 | $27,000 | 0.3x |
| 20 | [College of the Atlantic](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/college-of-the-atlantic) | Bar Harbor, ME | 69% | $40,264 | $25,184 | $25,050 | 0.62x |
| 21 | [Saint Joseph's College of Maine](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/saint-josephs-college-of-maine) | Standish, ME | 67% | $59,045 | $27,555 | $27,000 | 0.46x |
| 22 | [Bates College](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/bates-college) | Lewiston, ME | 90% | $69,498 | $29,351 | $14,275 | 0.21x |
| 23 | [University of New England](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/university-of-new-england) | Biddeford, ME | 65% | $55,921 | $38,107 | $25,250 | 0.45x |
| 24 | [Maine College of Art & Design](https://www.collegeranker.com/colleges/maine-college-of-art-design) | Portland, ME | 50% | $40,778 | $38,338 | $27,000 | 0.66x |

## Data Sources

- U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov)
- Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card (https://opportunityinsights.org/data)
- Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
- Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- NCES IPEDS

## Citation

CollegeRanker. "Most Affordable Colleges in Maine." CollegeRanker.com, 2026-05-31. https://www.collegeranker.com/rankings/most-affordable-colleges-maine

## License

This data summary is provided for informational purposes. Underlying data from federal sources (College Scorecard, IPEDS) is public domain. Opportunity Insights data is available under their data use agreement at https://opportunityinsights.org/data/.