Liberal arts colleges are a great option for students seeking a well-rounded education in an intimate campus setting. The best liberal arts colleges in Maine offer a diverse selection of degree programs with opportunities for a highly individualized educational experience.
At $9,970, Maine is right on target with the national average, making the state an affordable choice for those looking to receive an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. The 16 public colleges and universities range in tuition from $4,000 to $14,000. The 10 private schools tend to cost more, ranging from $27,000 to $55,000, though the class sizes are often much smaller. The largest private university is the University of New England, with just under 6,000 students, and a tuition of $38,000.
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The University of Maine (UMaine), with just under 10,000 students, is the largest public school, with a tuition rate of $11,000. Based in Orono, the public research university offers degrees in fields like literature, earth sciences, and physics. Stephen King and Bernard Lown are among the influential alumni who attended this school. The cost for higher education in Maine varies, but the state offers loan forgiveness programs for many professions, including dentists, lawyers, educators, health professionals, and veterinarians. The Alfond Leaders program forgives up to $60,000 for residents working in eligible science, technology, engineering, and mathematics occupations.
The northernmost state in New England, Maine is known for its fishing, quaint coastal towns, and of course, lobster. Maine is also home to over 60 lighthouses. Students looking to earn their degree while living in a state that has both ocean beaches and lush forests can choose from 26 private and public higher education institutions.
Come see why Maine is an excellent option for earning your higher education degree and starting a career.
Related: Differences between research universities and teaching colleges
A liberal arts college is a school that puts a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. We’ve identified 14 liberal arts colleges in Maine. To be ranked among the best liberal arts colleges in Maine, schools must fully accredited institutions.
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Bowdoin College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
92%
Student body
<1K
Bates College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
87%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1450/32
Colby College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
34%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1059/22
University of Southern Maine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$44K
Acceptance
61%
Graduation
67%
Student body
<1K
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
55%
Student body
1K
Unity College ’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
16%
Student body
2K
University of Maine at Augusta’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$29K
Graduation
51%
Student body
<1K
Thomas College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$14K
Acceptance
58%
Graduation
72%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
1080/22
Maine Maritime Academy’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$40K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
68%
Student body
1K
Median SAT/ACT
945/22
Saint Joseph's College of Maine’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
University of Maine at Farmington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
35%
Student body
1K
University of Maine at Presque Isle’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
100%
Graduation
40%
Student body
<1K
University of Maine at Fort Kent’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Many of our 2022 undergraduate focused rankings look considerably different than 2021. That’s because we took a fundamentally different apporach. For 2021 we utilized our Concentrated Influence algorithm, designed to take away the size advantage larger schools have when we rank their faculty and alumni’s academic influence. Concentrated influence highlights smaller schools that are proportionally as successful as larger universities at cultivating influential alumni and faculty.
Check out our directory of liberal arts colleges throughout the U.S. for a look at the top liberal arts schools in every state.
