University of Maine is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Orono, Maine. It enrolls 8,496 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes54
Value54
Affordability45
Selectivity37
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 96.6%, University of Maine is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
96.6%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether University of Maine is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
5.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending University of Maine isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $17,510 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$17,510
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
23%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
42%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$13,326
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$36,756
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,410
Room & Board (off-campus)
$13,410
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,270
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,270
Total Cost of Attendance
$27,328
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,642
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,280
$48,001 – $75,000
$14,631
$75,001 – $110,000
$18,508
Over $110,000
$22,018
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,75010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,30090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $18,500
↓ $6,500
No Pell $15,000
↓ $10,000
Dependent students $16,750
↓ $8,250
Independent students $16,841
↓ $8,159
Female students $17,723
↓ $7,277
Male students $15,547
↓ $9,453
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,750, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at University of Maine graduate within six years, and 80% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
80%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered University of Maine earn a median of $48,653 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$48,653
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$42,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$54,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$44,800
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$52,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $12,300, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 90% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
University of Maine is home to 8,496 students, a large student community.
Total Enrolled
8,496
Part-Time
12%
First-Generation
23%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 82.5%7,006
Other 5.0%426
Hispanic 4.9%417
Black 2.0%171
International 1.9%165
Asian 1.6%136
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at University of Maine. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small SuburbOrono, Maine
Housing
Mostly residential3,634 beds on campus
Adult Learners
10%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
University of Maine offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
173 distinct programs across
25 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Maine is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,303
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$412M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$100,161
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
528 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
156
30%
$137,040
Associate Professors
160
30%
$98,879
Assistant Professors
119
23%
$78,497
Instructors
2
0%
$80,700
Lecturers
90
17%
$67,860
No Rank
1
0%
$76,385
Pros & Cons of University of Maine
A quick at-a-glance summary of how University of Maine tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
CONS
Below-average completion rate
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, University of Maine is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about University of Maine
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about University of Maine.
Is University of Maine hard to get into?
University of Maine has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 96.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at University of Maine?
University of Maine has an acceptance rate of 96.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does University of Maine cost?
The average net price after aid at University of Maine is $17,510 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is University of Maine worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $48,653 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $17,510 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is University of Maine known for?
University of Maine is best known for its programs in Management Sciences, Business Administration, Psychology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do University of Maine graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering University of Maine are $48,653, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is University of Maine accredited?
Yes. University of Maine is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend University of Maine?
University of Maine enrolls 8,496 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maine?
University of Maine graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is University of Maine a public or private college?
University of Maine is a Public institution.
Where is University of Maine located?
University of Maine is located in Orono, Maine.
What programs does University of Maine offer?
University of Maine offers 173 distinct programs. The most popular include Management Sciences, Business Administration, Psychology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at University of Maine?
The student-to-faculty ratio at University of Maine is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Maine
Other colleges in Maine share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Economics
Political Science
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