Cost of college in Maine
In-state tuition at a public 4-year college in Maine averages $11,782 a year, or $14,743 as a real net price after aid. Graduates earn a median $48,865 and owe about $22,501. The net price pays back in about 8.3 years.
How Maine compares to the US
Maine ranks #16 of 51 for public in-state tuition (#1 is the most expensive), and #46 of 51 for graduate earnings. It ranks #46 of 51 for payback, where #1 is the fastest.
| Metric | Maine | US average | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-state tuition | $11,782 | $9,518 | +$2,264 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $29,197 | $23,652 | +$5,545 |
| Net price after aid | $14,743 | $13,788 | +$955 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs out | $48,865 | $56,427 | -$7,562 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,501 | $17,856 | +$4,645 |
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, 2026 release. Public 4-year institutions, aggregated to the state level and enrollment-weighted.
Does a degree in Maine pay for itself?
Payback is the ROI figure this index adds: the years the college earnings premium takes to recoup the net price. A public 4-year degree in Maine costs about $58,972 over four years at net price, and recoups in about 8.3 years from the roughly $7,065-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). That ranks #46 of 51 states and DC for payback. See the methodology for how it is built.
Private nonprofit 4-year colleges in Maine list about $37,815 in tuition and net out to about $22,622 after aid.
Frequently asked questions
How much does college cost in Maine?
At a public 4-year college in Maine, in-state tuition and fees average about $11,782 a year and out-of-state runs about $29,197. The net price after grants and scholarships, which also covers living costs, averages about $14,743. The national figures are $9,518 in-state and $13,788 net price.
What do college graduates in Maine earn and owe?
Ten years after starting, students from Maine's public 4-year colleges earn a median of about $48,865 a year and carry a median federal debt of about $22,501 at graduation, against a national median of $56,427 earnings and $17,856 debt.
Is college worth it in Maine?
A public 4-year degree in Maine costs about $58,972 over four years at net price and recoups in about 8.3 years from the roughly $7,065-a-year premium graduates earn over a high-school graduate (a $41,800 baseline). Nationally the payback is about 3.8 years.