Best small colleges in Maine
Colleges with fewer than 2,000 undergraduates, ranked by Compass Score.
Best small colleges in Maine11 schools
11 schools qualify, ranked by the Compass Score.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maine.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Fewer than 2,000 undergraduate students (federal enrollment).
- 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
- 1,850 undergraduates
- 95% graduate
- 2
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- 1,753 undergraduates
- 90% graduate
- 3
- 4
Maine College of Health Professions
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- 228 undergraduates
- 67% graduate
- 5
- 6
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish, ME · Private nonprofit#9 in Maine
- 1,059 undergraduates
- 66% graduate
- 7
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington, ME · Public#11 in Maine
- 1,605 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 8
- 9
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent, ME · PublicTop 9% for low net price
- 1,357 undergraduates
- 39% graduate
- 10
Maine College of Art & Design
Portland, ME · Private nonprofit#15 in Maine
- 422 undergraduates
- 52% graduate
- 11
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% |
| 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% |
| Saint Joseph's College of Maine | $27,555 | $27,000 | $59,045 | 66% |
| 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% |
| Maine College of Art & Design | $38,338 | $27,000 | $40,778 | 52% |
| Beal University | $40,109 | $19,500 | $35,639 | 36% |
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 10
- Arizona 8
- Arkansas 13
- California 63
- Colorado 5
- Connecticut 10
- Florida 27
- Georgia 24
- Idaho 3
- Illinois 25
- Indiana 20
- Iowa 23
- Kansas 18
- Kentucky 18
- Louisiana 8
- Maryland 13
- Massachusetts 31
- Michigan 23
- Minnesota 19
- Mississippi 8
- Missouri 31
- Montana 7
- Nebraska 12
- New Hampshire 7
- New Jersey 18
- New Mexico 7
- New York 55
- North Carolina 34
- North Dakota 4
- Ohio 58
- Oklahoma 11
- Oregon 11
- Pennsylvania 69
- Puerto Rico 31
- South Carolina 19
- South Dakota 5
- Tennessee 24
- Texas 31
- Utah 7
- Vermont 4
- Virginia 30
- Washington 12
- West Virginia 12
- Wisconsin 15