Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Maine
Colleges ranked by how many years of extra earnings, above a high school graduate’s, cover four years of net price.
Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Maine7 schools
7 schools qualify, ranked by payback years.
How this list is made
- Schools in Maine.
- Accredited four-year undergraduate colleges.
- Academic Excellence grade B+ or better (the top 35% of rated colleges).
- Has median earnings ten years after enrolling and a net price from federal data (College Scorecard), and those earnings are above a high school graduate’s ($48,360 a year: median weekly earnings of $930 for full-time workers with a high school diploma, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024).
- Each school needs a complete Compass Score, so every row shows a rating.
- Payback years = four years of net price ÷ (earnings − a high school graduate’s earnings). Ordered by payback years, fewest first. A simple estimate: it leaves out interest, taxes and earnings growth.
Updated Oct. 20, 2026. Methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
- 1
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME · Private nonprofitHonor Roll#1 in Maine
- Pays back in about 1.7 years
- Earnings $82,735 ten years out
- 2
Colby College
Waterville, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 2.1 years
- Earnings $80,490 ten years out
- 3
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME · PublicTop 5% for earnings
- Pays back in about 2.3 years
- Earnings $89,964 ten years out
- 4
Maine College of Health Professions
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitTop 8% for earnings
- Pays back in about 3.3 years
- Earnings $79,840 ten years out
- 5
Bates College
Lewiston, ME · Private nonprofitHonor RollExceptional: Compass grade A+
- Pays back in about 5.6 years
- Earnings $69,498 ten years out
- 6
University of New England
Biddeford, ME · Private nonprofitTop 23% for graduation
- Pays back in about 20.2 years
- Earnings $55,921 ten years out
- 7
University of Maine
Orono, ME · Public#10 in Maine
- Pays back in about 239.0 years
- Earnings $48,653 ten years out
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% |
| Maine Maritime Academy | $23,414 | $27,000 | $89,964 | 58% |
| Maine College of Health Professions | $26,312 | $15,250 | $79,840 | 67% |
| Bates College | $29,351 | $14,275 | $69,498 | 90% |
| University of New England | $38,107 | $25,250 | $55,921 | 68% |
| University of Maine | $17,510 | $25,000 | $48,653 | 55% |
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 5
- Arizona 3
- Arkansas 5
- California 54
- Colorado 6
- Connecticut 13
- District of Columbia 5
- Florida 15
- Georgia 9
- Illinois 19
- Indiana 19
- Iowa 15
- Kansas 3
- Kentucky 5
- Louisiana 3
- Maryland 14
- Massachusetts 38
- Michigan 19
- Minnesota 17
- Missouri 13
- Nebraska 8
- New Hampshire 4
- New Jersey 16
- New York 67
- North Carolina 15
- Ohio 28
- Oklahoma 4
- Oregon 9
- Pennsylvania 54
- Rhode Island 8
- South Carolina 6
- Tennessee 7
- Texas 17
- Utah 4
- Vermont 5
- Virginia 19
- Washington 13
- Wisconsin 13