University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
About University of Maine
University of Maine is a public research university in Orono, Maine, serving roughly 8,496 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 96.64% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $48,653 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- University of Maine charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition ($13,326).
- Versus the Maine median, sticker tuition is 3% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 54.94%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $48,653.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at University of Maine is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 595% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
University of Maine awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 138 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine | $13,326 | $17,510 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Maine (state median) | $12,983 | $8,205 | 28 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is University of Maine really?
Key findings
- University of Maine charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition ($13,326).
- Versus the Maine median, sticker tuition is 3% above.
University of Maine tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $13,326
Finding University of Maine charges about 2.4× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $13,326. That is about 2.4× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Maine median ($12,983), sticker tuition is 3% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 12% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at University of Maine versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at University of Maine versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at University of Maine is $17,510.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $17,510 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $9,305 above the Maine median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $1,190 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At University of Maine, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
University of Maine: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for University of Maine—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$13,326
Out-of-state tuition
$36,756
Avg. net price
$17,510
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $12,642 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,280 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $14,631 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $18,508 |
| $110,001+ | $22,018 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $53,304. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What University of Maine is known for
Top program completions
- Management Science157
- Business Administration and Management, General116
- Mechanical Engineering109
- Psychology, General105
- Marketing/Marketing Management, General102
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 14% of admitted students enrolled.
- Midpoint ACT: 26
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is University of Maine a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
University of Maine is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for University of Maine.
Campus
Location
Orono, ME
City / state
- ZIP
- 04469
- NCES locale
- Rural remote
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 6% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity
Size
Enrollment
8,496
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 11,336
- Graduate
- 2,428
- Full-time share
- 88%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 23.27%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for University of Maine.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Maine was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Maine in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $10,600 | $27,970 | $16,831 |
| 2014 | $10,606 | $28,486 | $16,731 |
| 2015 | $10,610 | $28,880 | $15,955 |
| 2016 | $10,628 | $29,498 | $15,895 |
| 2017 | $10,902 | $30,282 | $17,074 |
| 2018 | $11,170 | $30,970 | $16,388 |
| 2019 | $11,438 | $31,748 | $17,558 |
| 2020 | $11,744 | $32,534 | $16,033 |
| 2021 | $11,986 | $33,586 | $17,067 |
| 2022 | $12,136 | $33,736 | $17,175 |
| 2023 | $12,606 | $35,346 | $18,045 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Midpoint 26 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Maine reported total enrollment of about 8,496 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 52% male and 48% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (82.5%), Hispanic or Latino (4.9%), and Two or More Races (4.1%). About 23.27% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 23.4% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Maine in 2024 is 8,496 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 11,336 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,428 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
83.4%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
41.31% 100% Completion Time
54.94% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.31% of students graduating from University of Maine completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Management Science: 59% male / 41% female
- Business Administration and Management, General: 68% male / 32% female
- Mechanical Engineering: 79% male / 21% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
University of Maine graduates earn a median of $48,653 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of University of Maine.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $48,653. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $17,510.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway University of Maine graduates report median earnings of $48,653 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for University of Maine.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (138 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at University of Maine.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for University of Maine graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for University of Maine—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$411.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Maine median 27× the median ($15.4M)
- New England median 9.6× the median ($42.9M)
- U.S. median 16× the median ($26.4M)
- Maine median 3.5× the median ($12,087)
- New England median 1.8× the median ($23,268)
- U.S. median 3.5× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 69.7%
- Maine median 16.6 pp above median (53.1%)
- New England median 16.5 pp above median (53.3%)
- U.S. median 11.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $11,425
- Maine median 1.5× the median ($7,625)
- New England median 1.2× the median ($9,262)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $12,786
- Maine median 1.3× the median ($9,650)
- New England median 1.3× the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 1.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
University of Maine at a glance
University of Maine
University of Maine is a public institution in Orono, ME, classified as Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Management ScienceBusiness Administration and Management, GeneralMechanical Engineering
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian82.5%Hispanic or Latino4.9%Two or More Races4.1%
Schools near University of Maine
Other campuses in Orono, ME when available, plus nearby institutions in Maine.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within Maine, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Maine located?
University of Maine is located in Orono, ME.
What is University of Maine's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Maine is 96.6% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 13,995 applicants and 13,395 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is University of Maine's tuition?
University of Maine tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $13,326 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $17,510 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does University of Maine cost?
Reported tuition is $13,326 and average net price is $17,510 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $13,410 annually.
What explains University of Maine's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($17,510), completion (54.9% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($48,653). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at University of Maine?
University of Maine reports undergraduate enrollment of about 11,336 students, White (82.5%), Hispanic or Latino (4.9%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Maine?
About 23.4% of students at University of Maine are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Maine?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Maine reports midpoint ACT about 26.
What do graduates of University of Maine earn?
Median earnings are $43,124 six years after entry and $48,653 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maine?
The 150%-time completion rate is 54.9% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Maine students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is University of Maine public or private?
University of Maine is a public institution located in Orono, ME.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Maine college profile
- Maine college costs
- Maine colleges by ROI
- University of Maine vs University of Maine at Augusta vs University of Maine at Presque Isle
- New England regional profile
- Rural college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Maine
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.