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Top Colleges in Maine

Written by Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman

Gabriel Jimenez-Ekman is a content editor and writer at Scholarships360. He has managed communications and written content for a diverse array of organizations, including a farmer’s market, a concert venue, a student farm, an environmental NGO, and a PR agency. Gabriel graduated from Kenyon College with a degree in sociology.

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Updated: April 18th, 2024

Whether you’re looking for a great public education at University of Maine or a liberal arts schooling at Bowdoin College, the state of Maine has many college options for you. Maine is also part of the Tuition Break program, giving students from several neighboring states an in-state discount at public Maine schools. Compare colleges in Maine below by size, acceptance rate, graduation rate, cost, and more:

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15 colleges
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Bowdoin College

Brunswick, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

Brunswick, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Town, Need-Blind

9% acceptance rate
1,948 undergraduate students
94% graduation rate
$16,925 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College
Top College Top College: Affordability

Colby College

Waterville, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Waterville, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Town

9% acceptance rate
2,262 undergraduate students
87% graduation rate
$17,739 average per year after aid
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Top College Top College

Bates College

Lewiston, ME • Private, Non-Profit, City

Lewiston, ME

Private, Non-Profit, City

17% acceptance rate
1,821 undergraduate students
92% graduation rate
$26,560 average per year after aid
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University of Maine

Orono, ME • Public, Suburb

Orono, ME

Public, Suburb

96% acceptance rate
9,246 undergraduate students
57% graduation rate
$17,067 average per year after aid
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Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

Standish, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Rural

81% acceptance rate
1,066 undergraduate students
68% graduation rate
$29,195 average per year after aid
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College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Town

Bar Harbor, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Town

61% acceptance rate
369 undergraduate students
67% graduation rate
$22,098 average per year after aid
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University of Maine at Farmington

Farmington, ME • Public, Town

Farmington, ME

Public, Town

97% acceptance rate
1,380 undergraduate students
55% graduation rate
$13,863 average per year after aid
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Husson University

Bangor, ME • Private, Non-Profit, City

Bangor, ME

Private, Non-Profit, City

86% acceptance rate
2,430 undergraduate students
54% graduation rate
$19,688 average per year after aid
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University of Maine at Fort Kent

Fort Kent, ME • Public, Rural

Fort Kent, ME

Public, Rural

100% acceptance rate
784 undergraduate students
40% graduation rate
$9,214 average per year after aid
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University of New England

Biddeford, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

Biddeford, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Suburb

90% acceptance rate
2,224 undergraduate students
63% graduation rate
$35,936 average per year after aid
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Thomas College

Waterville, ME • Private, Non-Profit, Rural

Waterville, ME

Private, Non-Profit, Rural

--% acceptance rate
682 undergraduate students
51% graduation rate
$22,084 average per year after aid
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University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME • Public, City

Portland, ME

Public, City

87% acceptance rate
4,668 undergraduate students
34% graduation rate
$9,472 average per year after aid
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University of Maine at Presque Isle

Presque Isle, ME • Public, Rural

Presque Isle, ME

Public, Rural

100% acceptance rate
983 undergraduate students
35% graduation rate
$9,266 average per year after aid
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University of Maine at Augusta

Augusta, ME • Public, Town

Augusta, ME

Public, Town

--% acceptance rate
3,020 undergraduate students
16% graduation rate
$9,889 average per year after aid
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Maine College of Art & Design

Portland, ME • Private, Non-Profit, City

Portland, ME

Private, Non-Profit, City

72% acceptance rate
407 undergraduate students
44% graduation rate
$34,380 average per year after aid
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About the Data

We sort colleges on our lists according to their Scholarships360 Top Colleges Index Score. This score is calculated using up-to-date information taken directly from the College Scorecard. Additional information is sourced from the colleges themselves, as well as other publicly available information. If you see an error, feel free to contact us.

State grants in Maine

Maine State Grant Program: 

The Maine State Grant Program is a need-based grant for residents of Maine. Awards will be granted based on the students’ Student Aid Index (SAI) reported on their FAFSA. In order to be eligible for this program, students must be attending a school that accepts federal student aid at at least half-time status. 

Free College Scholarship:

The Free College Scholarship gives Maine residents the opportunity to go to one of Maine’s seven community colleges free of tuition and fees. There are no income or age limits for this scholarship. 

Maine tuition reciprocity agreements

Maine is a part of an organization called the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE), which allows students in certain programs to study out of state at a discounted tuition rate. The partner states of the NEBHE include:

Other college lists to explore

Frequently asked questions about colleges in Maine

What is the hardest college in Maine to get into?

The college with the hardest acceptance rate is tied between Bowdoin College and Colby College, with both schools having admitted only 9% of students who applied. Just because these schools have lower acceptance rates, doesn’t mean it’s not worth applying! Remember, the only way there’s zero chance of you getting in is if you don’t apply at all.

Does Maine have tuition reciprocity?

Yes! Maine is a part of the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) which is an organization that partners with 5 other states in the northeast to give students the opportunity to attend out of state schools at a discounted tuition rate.

Why should I study in Maine?

You may know Maine as a play that’s famous for their Lobster rolls or their historic lighthouses, but you may not know that it can be a great educational landscape as well. Maine is one of the more environmentally friendly states in the country, so many schools have great programs dedicated to environmental science. Another great aspect of studying in Maine is you’ll get to experience all of the amazing colors of the fall season. Whether you’d like to study in a bigger city like Portland or a smaller seaside town, there is plenty of charm to this small northern state.

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