Waterville, Maine Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
Colleges in Waterville, Maine: median public in-state tuition $50,712 (+820.0% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $62,740 (+15.4% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 22.9% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $21,704 (+63.5% vs U.S.) 3,054 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 2 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 3,054 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $50,712 (+820.0% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $62,740 (+15.4% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 22.9% (-65.1 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $18,032 (+80.9% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $21,704 (+63.5% vs U.S. $13,271); regional median $18,927
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 71.2%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 85.6%
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Overview
Colleges and universities in Waterville serve students across Maine with associate, bachelor's, and graduate pathways. 2 reporting campuses in this city profile, with about 3,054 students enrolled in federal data, and median in-state tuition near $50,712. Tables below compare costs, completion, earnings, and standout institutions against Waterville, Maine and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Waterville vs Maine & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville, Maine | $50,712 | $18,032 | $21,704 | 71.2% | 3,054 |
| Maine (state median) | $8,888 | $8,205 | $19,328 | 58.0% | 55,272 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Waterville, Maine vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville, Maine | $62,740 | 22.9% | 85.6% | 4.9% | — | 81.3% | 0.39 |
| Maine (state median) | $48,653 | 15.0% | 77.5% | 4.9% | — | 79.6% | 0.46 |
| United States | $54,384 | 88.0% | 76.4% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Maine (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterville, Maine | $50,712 | $18,032 | $21,704 | 71.2% | 3,054 | $62,740 | 22.9% |
| Bangor | $13,730 | $18,598 | $16,250 | 47.7% | 5,059 | $45,025 | 10.5% |
| Portland | $27,113 | $25,967 | $23,030 | 46.0% | 4,637 | $45,368 | 19.1% |
| Portland | $27,113 | $25,967 | $23,030 | 46.0% | 4,637 | $45,368 | 19.1% |
| Augusta | $8,888 | $14,818 | $15,217 | 27.0% | 2,815 | $40,342 | 12.5% |
| Augusta | $8,888 | $14,818 | $15,217 | 27.0% | 2,815 | $40,342 | 12.5% |
| Presque Isle | $6,779 | $7,108 | $13,412 | 51.5% | 2,551 | $40,956 | 9.5% |
| Lewiston | $43,771 | $27,832 | $14,762 | 78.2% | 1,999 | $69,498 | 37.5% |
| Lewiston | $43,771 | $27,832 | $14,762 | 78.2% | 1,999 | $69,498 | 37.5% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,969 | $13,271 | 50.3% | 14,468,221 | $54,384 | 88.0% |
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 88.8%, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Graduation Rate, 53.7%, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 34.2%, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Employment Outcome, 11.6%, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 most selective colleges in Waterville, Maine (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 7.1%, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Admission Rate, 96.3%, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $76,401, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Entry-Level Earnings, $47,356, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $103,491, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Early-Career Earnings, $76,089, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $60,052, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Mid-Career Earnings, $40,495, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $68,015, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, 8-Yr Earnings, $37,492, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $80,490, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr Earnings, $44,991, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $260,943, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, 10-Yr ROI, $108,788, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 most affordable colleges in Waterville, Maine (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $17,180, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, Net Price, $18,885, Thomas College
Thomas College
Top 2 colleges in Waterville, Maine by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 93.7%, Colby College
Colby College
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Rank 2, First-Year Retention, 77.5%, Thomas College
Thomas College
In-state tuition: Waterville, Maine vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Waterville, Maine median in-state tuition is $50,712, +820.0% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Waterville, Maine vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Waterville, Maine is $21,704 (+63.5% vs U.S. median $13,271). Regional median: $18,927.
Median earnings (10 years out): Waterville, Maine vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Waterville, Maine center around $62,740 (+15.4% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Waterville, Maine vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 22.9% at the median Waterville, Maine campus (-65.1 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Waterville, Maine median public in-state tuition is $50,712, about +820.0% vs the national median. Versus the New England region, tuition is +439.4%.
Median graduate debt is $21,704 (+63.5% above the U.S. median of $13,271). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Waterville, Maine are $62,740, about +15.4% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,384).
The median campus reports 22.9% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 88.0% (-65.1 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 85.6% vs a U.S. median of 76.4%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 4.9% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 81.3% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Colby College (34.2%), Thomas College (11.6%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Waterville, Maine is 71.2% (national institution average about 50.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many colleges are in Waterville?
This city profile covers 2 campuses in Waterville, Maine with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Waterville?
Median in-state tuition in Waterville is $50,712 and median net price is $18,032. For Maine overall, medians are $8,888 and $8,205; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,969.
What do graduates earn in Waterville?
Median 10-year earnings for campuses in Waterville is $62,740 vs $48,653 for Maine and $54,384 nationally.
What is student debt like for Waterville colleges?
Median completer debt in Waterville is $21,704 vs $19,328 for Maine and $13,271 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Waterville?
Top campuses on this page include Colby College (graduation) and Colby College (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Waterville?
Among 2 College Scorecard campuses in Waterville, Maine, none are flagged as HBCUs or tribal colleges in IPEDS, and none meet our 25% Hispanic-enrollment HSI proxy or report a religious affiliation in IPEDS.
Sources & related
- Maine college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON