Best Colleges in Maine (2023 Rankings)

Whether you're preparing to graduate high school or thinking of applying for enrollment in a graduate program, Maine is an awesome place to get a college education. From large public research universities to small private colleges, this state offers something for everyone.

We'll help get you started on your search for the right school for you with an introduction to some of Maine's best colleges (in no particular order). Along the way, you'll learn what each has to offer in terms of programs, on campus activities, and more!

Bowdoin College, Brunswick

Tuition: $56,350

Fast facts:

• 1,777 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 9%
• Graduation rate: 91% (4-year), 95% (6-year)

Founded in 1794, Bowdoin College is a prestigious private liberal arts college that's 26 years older than the state of Maine itself! Bowdoin offers a 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a choice of over 40 majors ranging from art and English to mathematics and neuroscience - all in the charming New England town of Brunswick, ME.

With stellar graduation rates and a renowned academic track record, Bowdoin graduates often go on to pursue their master's degrees at top schools like Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins University. Best of all, Bowdoin's need-blind financial aid policy offers grants instead of loans to help as many students as possible graduate debt free.

You might also like: University of Maine, Machias

Bates College, Lewiston

Tuition: $57,353

Fast facts:

• 1,876 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 14%
• Graduation rate: 90% (4-year), 92% (6-year)

Whether you're looking for a top-notch liberal arts college or a STEM-focused education, you'll find it at Bates College. Another of Maine's most celebrated private colleges, Bates offers about three dozen majors and two dozen minors, including Earth and climate sciences, physics, and politics.

Bates also offers a strong "3-2" (five-year) Dual Degree Program for students interested in Engineering. Instead of frats or sororities, you'll find 110 student clubs, a 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and faculty who all hold the highest degrees in their fields.

You might also like: University of Southern Maine, Portland

Colby College, Waterville

Tuition: $59,430

Fast facts:

• 2,155 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 10%
• Graduation rate: 89% (4-year), 90% (6-year)

In case you haven't noticed yet, Maine is home to some killer private liberal arts colleges, and Colby College is no exception. Colby sprawls across a gorgeous 714-acre campus and offers 60 majors and 36 minors, not to mention plenty of research, internship, and study abroad opportunities.

Colby is particularly renowned as a great place for artists due to its collaborations with top institutions like the Colby Museum of Art, Lunder Institute for American Art, and Gordon Center for Creative and Performing Arts. Get involved with one of the many student clubs and organizations you'll find on campus that are dedicated to everything from art and culture to politics and sports.

You might also like: Maine College of Art, Portland

University of Maine, Orono

In-state Tuition: $11,744

Out-of-state Tuition: $32,534

Fast facts:

• 9,465 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 92%
• Graduation rate: 40% (4-year), 56% (6-year)

The University of Maine is not only the flagship campus of the University of Maine system but also a respected Land-, Sea-, and Space-Grant institution. UMaine offers over 100 different degree programs to choose from and is highly respected for its strong tradition of undergraduate and graduate research.

A Carnegie R1 top-tier research university, UMaine boasts over 150 research institutions and labs, making it an excellent place to study climate change, marine sciences, or engineering. UMaine is also home to the state's only NCAA Division I athletics program, more than 200 student organizations, and one of the oldest honors programs in America.

You might also like: University of Maine at Farmington, Farmington

University of New England, Biddeford

Tuition: $38,750

Fast facts:

• 4,065 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 87%
• Graduation rate: 56% (4-year), 61% (6-year)

Located on a stunning 579-acre waterfront campus, the University of New England is the state's largest private university and consistently ranks as Maine's top producer of health professionals. At UNE, you'll find the state's sole medical college and physician assistant program and the only dental college in Northern New England.

But the school also offers a broad range of programs, including majors such as aquaculture, aquarium sciences and aquaponics, animal behavior, and criminology. With a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and plenty of hands-on internship and fieldwork opportunities, UNE is an excellent choice for higher education.

You might also like: University of Maine at Augusta

College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor

Tuition: $43,542

Fast facts:

• 366 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 76%
• Graduation rate: 53% (4-year), 66% (6-year)

If you want the freedom to build a curriculum around your own unique methodology, then the College of the Atlantic is a great place to do it. Instead of majors, this tiny private college offers "constellations of interests" themed around everything from marine science and climate change to mind, meaning, and consciousness.

You'll enjoy the freedom to study as few or as many interests as you like among a tight-knit, supportive community. The list of student clubs you'll find on campus is just as delightfully eclectic - check out the circus, chess, and improv clubs, or see what the paranormal and cryptozoology club is all about.

You might also like: Unity College, Unity

Maine Maritime Academy, Castine

In-state Tuition: $14,058

Out-of-state Tuition: $28,438

Fast facts:

• 928 undergraduate students
• Acceptance rate: 52%
• Graduation rate: 59% (4-year), 74% (6-year)

The Maine Maritime Academy is a small public college that prepares students for careers in engineering, management, science, and transportation. Whether you want to earn an associate degree in Small Vessel Operations or a bachelor's degree in Marine Biology, Oceanography, or Maritime Management, Maine Maritime Academy has got you covered.

You'll enjoy a hands-on approach to higher education as you learn aboard commercial or research vessels and training ships. The academy even offers select master's degrees in Maritime Management and International Logistics Management.

You might also like: University of Maine at Presque Isle, Presque Isle

Saint Joseph's College of Maine, Standish

Tuition: $38,820

Fast facts:

• 1,329 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 87%
• Graduation rate: 54% (4-year), 59% (6-year)

Saint Joseph's College of Maine is a small Catholic university that sprawls along 474 acres of the gorgeous shores of Sebago Lake. Choose from one of over 40 degree programs, including popular choices like Nursing, Psychology, Business, and Criminal Justice.

Or check out St. Joseph's solid selection of 22 online graduate degree programs. With average class sizes of just 14, students enjoy an intimate learning environment with plenty of great opportunities for experiential learning.

You might also like: University of Maine at Fort Kent, Fort Kent

Husson University, Bangor

Tuition: $19,722

Fast facts:

• 2,679 undergraduate students 
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• Graduation rate: 36% (4-year), 58% (6-year)

Husson University is another great private college that places a high emphasis on individual attention and real-world learning opportunities like internships and clinical experience. Here you'll find a choice of 65 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs plus a wide range of certificate programs.

Choose from pre-professional programs in pre-law and pre-medicine or majors like forensic science, education, and extended reality (XR). Cheer on the Husson Eagle's sports (and esports!) teams, or join student clubs dedicated to snowboarding, D&D, boxing, and beyond.

You might also like: Thomas College, Waterville

Maine colleges FAQ

What Ivy League colleges are in Maine?

While there are technically no Ivy League colleges in Maine, Bowdoin College, Colby College, and Bates College all have elite academic track records that rival those of larger universities like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.

What is the most prestigious college in Maine?

While Bowdoin College is considered the most prestigious college in Maine, Colby and Bates are right on its heels.

What's the number one best college in Maine?

Keep in mind that "best" doesn't equal "most prestigious." If you're interested in pursuing a career on the waves, then Maine Maritime Academy might be the best college for you.

But, if you want to become a dentist, then there's no better choice than the University of New England. It's all about finding the perfect school for your unique goals and interests.

Find the perfect Maine school with College Rover

We get it - finding the right college for you can feel like an epic feat. That's why we designed College Rover, a user-friendly database where you'll find all the information you need to compare colleges and programs all over the country.

Use our customizable filter settings to discover new schools that align with your preferences, or compare your top choices side by side. Because finding the right college for you shouldn't feel like cramming for finals.

College Rover gets the majority of its data directly from the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The DOE publishing schedule "lags" the most current data which some colleges post on their official websites. This may cause there to be a difference in the data you see on College Rover and an individual college website. College Rover's website is updated as the DOE data becomes available and is configured for the College Rover website.