Best Online Master’s Programs in Maine 2024

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Academic Influence Staff

Published: May 11, 2022
Updated: Nov 22, 2023

Find the best online colleges in Maine ranked by the academic success of faculty and alumni associated with the colleges and universities and their online degree programs. Faculty and alumni with influential ideas are the foundation of respectable online degree programs employers can trust.

University of Maine
University of Southern Maine
University of New England
Husson University
Thomas College
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Unity Environmental University

Thomas College 97%
University of New England 96%
Unity Environmental University 94%
University of Maine 94%
Husson University 91%
University of Southern Maine 85%
Saint Joseph's College of Maine 81%

Unity Environmental University 36 to 1
Thomas College 23 to 1
Husson University 16 to 1
University of Maine 14 to 1
University of Southern Maine 14 to 1
University of New England 12 to 1
Saint Joseph's College of Maine 10 to 1

Saint Joseph's College of Maine $41,586
University of New England $40,950
Thomas College $29,996
Husson University $21,090
Unity Environmental University $12,640
University of Maine $11,640
University of Southern Maine $8,064

University of New England $29,607
Thomas College $28,954
Husson University $17,220
Unity Environmental University $9,750
University of Maine $9,738
Saint Joseph's College of Maine $9,630
University of Southern Maine $7,776

Husson University
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Thomas College
Unity Environmental University
University of New England
University of Southern Maine
University of Maine

Unity Environmental University
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Thomas College
Husson University
University of New England
University of Southern Maine
University of Maine

Saint Joseph's College of Maine 81%
University of Southern Maine 85%
Husson University 91%
University of Maine 94%
Unity Environmental University 94%
University of New England 96%
Thomas College 97%

Saint Joseph's College of Maine 10 to 1
University of New England 12 to 1
University of Maine 14 to 1
University of Southern Maine 14 to 1
Husson University 16 to 1
Thomas College 23 to 1
Unity Environmental University 36 to 1

University of Southern Maine $8,064
University of Maine $11,640
Unity Environmental University $12,640
Husson University $21,090
Thomas College $29,996
University of New England $40,950
Saint Joseph's College of Maine $41,586

University of Southern Maine $7,776
Saint Joseph's College of Maine $9,630
University of Maine $9,738
Unity Environmental University $9,750
Husson University $17,220
Thomas College $28,954
University of New England $29,607

Table of Contents

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Maine

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.

Find college admissions consultants in your state.

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.

What are Maine’s Colleges & Universities?

Maine’s Best Overall

Online master’s degrees offered by respected colleges and universities are generally respected by employers. The main thing to consider about your online master’s choices is whether the school name is well known and respected. In many cases, employers won’t know your degree was earned online. But even if they do, a degree from a respected college is automatically to your benefit.

We rank the colleges and universities in this list by the influence of their alumni and faculty. For master’s degree students, including online master’s degree students, having faculty who are influential in your field matters a lot. It’s a big indicator that you have the chance to get a quality education. And, knowing that you will join an alumni association with some impressive people is nice, too.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Master’s Degrees

An online master’s degree costs about $40,000 for the average grad student. However, the cost of your online master’s degree will depend on the type of grad school you attend. In 2018-2019, the average cost for a year of tuition in a public grad school was $12,171. The average cost for a year of tuition in private, non-profit grad school was $27,776. An online master’s degree will usually cost about the same as a traditional master’s degree. Some schools will charge 5-10% more for online courses. This added cost pays for the technology and specialized training needed for online instruction. But getting a master’s degree online can also help you save money. The costs above don’t include expenses like housing, transportation, or certain campus fees. As an online grad student, you can save a lot of money by avoiding these added expenses. Many online master’s degree programs are also accelerated. Most master’s degree programs are designed to be completed in two years. But you may be able to earn your online master’s degree in as little as 12-18 months. Earning an accelerated online master’s degree can save you money on tuition.

If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require some adjustment. While you’ll generally learn the same content and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, the medium will likely require you to manage much of this experience independently. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, your ability to harness the technology at your fingertips, and your ability to focus on the lectures, lessons, and assignments at hand. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take it upon yourself to build relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.

In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript or resume differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.

While some employers may express concern about making the adjustment from online education to in-person workplace collaboration, many other employers will view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st Century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.

The advantages of online classes are many. First and foremost, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.

If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will require some adjustment.

While there is much that can be supplanted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing which can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual classroom setting. As you make the adjustment to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face is overcoming this difference in order to the get the most out of your classes. Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.

How do we determine Maine's best online master's degree programs?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great! If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities for a bachelor’s degree, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching and whether their graduates are themselves advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence in their fields of study.

Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and arbitrary performance metrics. Concentrated Influence provides a ranking that is freer from bias, insulated from manipulation, and reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

To rank the influence of schools, we first determine the influence of scholars and professionals based on the number of citations and publications they have had over the past 10 years. In addition to publications and citations, we consider the web links to and from these sources, and the page views of those sources. We then match the influential people to their alma maters and institutions of employment, so that their influence is attributed to those schools. Our machine-learning Influence Ranking algorithm produces a numerical score of academic achievements, merits, and citations across Wikipedia, wikidata, Crossref, Semantic Scholar and an ever-growing body of data. If you are interested in exploring how and why we rank by influence, explore our methodology in more depth.

Best Online Master’s Program in Maine 2023

#1
University of Maine
Orono , ME
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine 2024 #1 Best Research Universities in Maine 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Maine 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Maine 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
55%
Student body
15K
Median SAT/ACT
1200/26
Career Outlook for degree at University of Maine
Cost of Degree: $10,104
Expenses: $15,320
Starting Salary: $48,300
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Accounting
Business Analytics
Finance
Healthcare Systems
Human Nutrition
Outdoor Industry Management
Public and Nonprofit Management
Sustainability

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Data Science and Engineering

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Information Systems

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in 4+1 Special Education

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Instructional Technology

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MAT in Secondary Education

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 40
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MEd in Special Education

Concentrations

High Incidence Disabilities
Low Incidence Disabilities
Dual Concentration in High and Low Incidence Disabilities
Early Intervention
Individualized Program

Required Credits: 33-45
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Interdisciplinary Studies

Concentrations

Peace and Reconciliation Studies

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSW in Social Work

Required Credits: 46-63
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Food Science and Human Nutrition

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
PSM in Bioinformatics

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Spatial Informatics

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
PSM in Engineering and Business

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#2
University of Southern Maine
Portland , ME
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Maine 2024 #2 Best Grad Schools in Maine 2024 #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Maine 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$10K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
42%
Student body
10K
Median SAT/ACT
1109/22
Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Maine
Cost of Degree: $8,982
Expenses: $14,784
Starting Salary: $44,400
Cost Recoup Time: 6 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MS in Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing (RN-to-MSN)

Concentrations

Nursing Administration and Leadership
Nursing Education

Required Credits: 60
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MSEd in Teacher Leadership

Concentrations

Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 10 months
Format: Online
MSEd in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 10 months
Format: Online
MEd in Instructional Technology

Required Credits: 33
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Adult and Higher Education

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSEd in Educational Leadership

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 14 months
Format: Online
MS in Educational Psychology

Concentrations

Applied Behavior Analysis

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Special Education

Concentrations

In-Service
Pre-Service (Teaching Students With Mild to Moderate Disabilities)
Integrated General Education and Special Education Initial Teacher Certification
Effective Instruction and Assessment for Students with Suspected and Identified Disabilities

Required Credits: 51
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Leadership Studies

Required Credits: 45
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing

Concentrations

Nursing Administration and Leadership
Nursing Education

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 18 months
Format: Online
Compare school
#3
University of New England
Biddeford , ME
#2 Best Research Universities in Maine 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Maine 2024 #5 Best Private Colleges in Maine 2024 #7 Best Colleges in Maine 2024
Tuition + fees
$41K
Acceptance
96%
Graduation
59%
Student body
10K
Career Outlook for degree at University of New England
Cost of Degree: $30,198
Expenses: $20,250
Starting Salary: $51,000
Cost Recoup Time: 10 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MSEd in Education

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MSED-RS in Education

Concentrations

Reading Specialist

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2 years
Format: Online
MSW in Social Work

Required Credits: 64
Completion time: 3 years
Format: Online
MSAN in Applied Nutrition

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Health Informatics

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MPH in Public Health

Required Credits: 46
Completion time: 18 months
Format: Online
MHA in Healthcare Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
PMC in Post Master’S Certificate

Concentrations

Curriculum and Instructional Strategies
Literacy K-12
Inclusion Education
Educational Leadership
Individualized

Required Credits: 15
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
Compare school
#4
Unity Environmental University
New Gloucester , ME
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Maine 2024 #5 Best Small Colleges in Maine 2024 #6 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Maine 2024 #6 Best Private Colleges in Maine 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
94%
Graduation
53%
Student body
5K
Career Outlook for degree at Unity Environmental University
Cost of Degree: $9,750
Expenses: $13,884
Starting Salary: $37,400
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MS in Urban Ecology and Sustainable Planning

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Animal Science and Behavior

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Environmental Geographic Information Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Environmental Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Environmental Studies and Sustainability

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Marine Science

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Wildlife Conservation and Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MBA in Sustainable Business Management

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#5
Thomas College
Waterville , ME
#7 Best Private Colleges in Maine 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Maine 2024 #8 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Maine 2024 #10 Best Colleges in Maine 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$30K
Acceptance
97%
Graduation
50%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Thomas College
Cost of Degree: $29,996
Expenses: $14,998
Starting Salary: $43,400
Cost Recoup Time: 11 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Human Resources
Project Management
Healthcare Management

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 1-2 years
Format: Online
MS in Criminology

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 1-2 years
Format: Online
MS in Cybersecurity

Required Credits: 30
Completion time: 1-2 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#6
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish , ME
#25 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #8 Best Private Colleges in Maine 2024 #9 Best Small Colleges in Maine 2024 #10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Maine 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$42K
Acceptance
81%
Graduation
70%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for degree at Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Cost of Degree: $9,630
Expenses: $17,836
Starting Salary: $47,000
Cost Recoup Time: 7 years
Paid back at 15% of annual salary
Online Master’s Degrees
MAcc in Accountancy

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

General
Leadership

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSED in Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MDiv in Divinity

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MA in Theology

Concentrations

Advanced Diaconal Studies
Pastoral Theology
Sacred Theology

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MHA in Health Administration

Concentrations

Catholic Health Leadership

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MS in Nursing (MSN)

Concentrations

Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Family Nurse Practitioner
Administration
Education

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN/MBA in Nursing and Business Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
MSN/MHA in Nursing and Health Administration

Required Credits: None Reported
Completion time: 2-3 years
Format: Online
Compare school
#7
Husson University
Bangor , ME
#4 Best Online MBA Programs in Maine #7 Best Online Colleges in Maine 2024 #18 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024 #19 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
91%
Graduation
60%
Student body
4K
Online Master’s Degrees
Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Concentrations

Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Organizational Management
Risk Management
Healthcare Management

Required Credits: 36
Completion time: 1-2 years
Format: Online
MPH in Public Health

Required Credits: 12
Completion time: 1 year
Format: Online
Compare school

Maine’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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Best Online Master’s Programs in Maine 2024

Top Online Master's Programs in Maine

Featured Programs

Colleges and Universities in Maine

What are Maine’s Colleges & Universities?

Best Online Master’s Program in Maine 2023

Career Outlook for degree at University of Maine

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of Southern Maine

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at University of New England

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Unity Environmental University

Online Master’s Degrees

Career Outlook for degree at Thomas College

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Career Outlook for degree at Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Concentrations

Online Master’s Degrees

Concentrations

Maine’s Best Grad Programs in Your Area Interest

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