Best colleges in Maine
Every accredited four-year college ranked by the Compass Score: outcomes, entering students, cost and teaching, from federal data.
Best colleges in Maine19 schools
19 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maine.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Ordered by Compass Score, highest first. Schools with the same score share a rank.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maine
- Value grade A+ · Top 3%
- 95% graduate
- 2
Colby College
Waterville, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade A · Top 5%
- 89% graduate
- 3
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Value grade B+ · Top 33%
- 90% graduate
- 4
- 5
Maine College of Health Professions
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- Value grade A- · Top 19%
- 67% graduate
- 6
- 7
University of New England
Biddeford, ME · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Value grade C+
- 68% graduate
- 8
- 9
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME · Private nonprofit#9 in Maine
- Value grade C+
- 66% graduate
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, ME · PublicTop 9% for low net price
- Value grade A- · Top 15%
- 39% graduate
- 14
- 15
- 16
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle, ME · PublicTop 8% for low net price
- Value grade B+ · Top 23%
- 52% graduate
- 17
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, ME · PublicTop 18% for low net price
- Value grade B · Top 45%
- 27% graduate
- 18
- 19
Unity Environmental University
New Gloucester, ME · Private nonprofit#19 in Maine
- Value grade C+
- 29% graduate
Compare cost and outcomes
| School | Net price a year | Median debt | Earnings 10 years out | Graduation rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowdoin College | $14,398 | $18,500 | $82,735 | 95% |
| Colby College | $17,180 | $19,157 | $80,490 | 89% |
| Bates College | $29,351 | $14,275 | $69,498 | 90% |
| College of the Atlantic | $25,184 | $25,050 | $40,264 | 68% |
| Maine College of Health Professions | $26,312 | $15,250 | $79,840 | 67% |
| Maine Maritime Academy | $23,414 | $27,000 | $89,964 | 58% |
| University of New England | $38,107 | $25,250 | $55,921 | 68% |
| Husson University | $21,005 | $27,000 | $45,025 | 59% |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine | $27,555 | $27,000 | $59,045 | 66% |
| University of Maine | $17,510 | $25,000 | $48,653 | 55% |
| University of Maine at Farmington | $16,857 | $24,499 | $44,433 | 52% |
| Thomas College | $18,885 | $24,250 | $44,991 | 54% |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | $7,482 | $20,160 | $51,077 | 39% |
| University of Southern Maine | $13,596 | $19,060 | $49,958 | 40% |
| Maine College of Art & Design | $38,338 | $27,000 | $40,778 | 52% |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | $7,035 | $16,000 | $40,956 | 52% |
| University of Maine at Augusta | $10,924 | $22,734 | $40,342 | 27% |
| Beal University | $40,109 | $19,500 | $35,639 | 36% |
| Unity Environmental University | $19,104 | $25,000 | $37,852 | 29% |
Net price is the average yearly cost after grants. Federal data (College Scorecard). “—” means the school reports no figure.
This list in other states
- Alabama 26
- Alaska 5
- Arizona 16
- Arkansas 23
- California 128
- Colorado 26
- Connecticut 26
- Delaware 4
- District of Columbia 9
- Florida 61
- Georgia 60
- Hawaii 6
- Idaho 9
- Illinois 57
- Indiana 45
- Iowa 30
- Kansas 27
- Kentucky 29
- Louisiana 24
- Maryland 26
- Massachusetts 67
- Michigan 44
- Minnesota 40
- Mississippi 16
- Missouri 53
- Montana 10
- Nebraska 19
- Nevada 6
- New Hampshire 13
- New Jersey 36
- New Mexico 11
- New York 135
- North Carolina 55
- North Dakota 9
- Ohio 99
- Oklahoma 23
- Oregon 21
- Pennsylvania 118
- Puerto Rico 52
- Rhode Island 11
- South Carolina 35
- South Dakota 11
- Tennessee 43
- Texas 85
- Utah 16
- Vermont 9
- Virginia 51
- Washington 24
- West Virginia 19
- Wisconsin 36
- Wyoming 3