Maine may be the northernmost New England state, but its higher education offerings are among the finest in the country. Bowdoin College — consistently ranked a top-5 liberal arts college in the US — is joined by Bates College, Colby College, and the University of Maine system in offering a complete range of academic options from intimate liberal arts colleges to research universities in one of America’s most beautiful natural environments.
Best Universities in Maine 2026
Husson University
Location: Bangor | Type: Private | Founded: 1898 | Tuition: $17,660/yr
Husson University is a private career-focused university founded in 1898 in Bangor, Maine. Enrolling 3,500 students, Husson is known for nursing, business, pharmacy, criminal justice, and sports management programs with a practical, applied education model.nnProgramsSchool of Business — Business programs in Bangor’s growing economySchool of…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Medicine & Health Sciences, Social Work & Humanities
University of Southern Maine
Location: Portland | Type: Public | Founded: 1878 | Tuition: $10,386/yr
The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university founded in 1878 in Portland — Maine’s largest city. Enrolling 9,000 students, USM is known for nursing, law (School of Law — Maine’s only public law school), business, social work, and education programs serving Southern…
Programs: Business & Finance, Education, Law, Liberal Arts
Maine Maritime Academy
Location: Castine | Type: Public | Founded: 1941 | Tuition: $19,350/yr
Maine Maritime Academy is a public maritime college founded in 1941 in Castine, Maine, on Penobscot Bay. Enrolling 1,000 students, MMA is known for marine engineering, marine transportation, ocean studies, and logistics programs. MMA graduates are among the highest-paid in Maine, commanding the container ships…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Maritime and Other, Science & Research
Colby College
Location: Waterville | Type: Private | Founded: 1813 | Tuition: $62,990/yr
Colby College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1813 in Waterville, Maine. Consistently ranked among the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the US, Colby enrolls 2,100 students and is known for environmental science, global studies, and the arts. Colby is building a…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Social Work & Humanities
Bates College
Location: Lewiston | Type: Private | Founded: 1855 | Tuition: $60,590/yr
Bates College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1855 in Lewiston, Maine, by Free Will Baptists opposed to slavery — Bates was one of the first colleges in New England to admit students regardless of race, religion, or gender. Consistently ranked among the…
Programs: Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Social Work & Humanities
Bowdoin College
Location: Brunswick | Type: Private | Founded: 1794 | Tuition: $64,610/yr
Bowdoin College is a private liberal arts college founded in 1794 in Brunswick, Maine. Consistently ranked among the top 5 liberal arts colleges in the United States, Bowdoin enrolls 1,900 students and is known for marine science (Schiller Coastal Studies Center on Orr’s Island), environmental…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Business & Finance, Liberal Arts, Science & Research
University of Maine
Location: Orono | Type: Public | Founded: 1865 | Tuition: $11,700/yr
The University of Maine (UMaine) is a public land-grant research university founded in 1865 in Orono — Maine’s flagship. Enrolling 12,000 students, UMaine is known for forestry (one of the top forest science programs in the Northeast), marine sciences, engineering, and unique aquaculture research (lobster,…
Programs: Agriculture & Environment, Business & Finance, Engineering, Law
Top Community Colleges in Maine 2026
Community colleges in Maine offer affordable pathways with transfer agreements to major state universities.
- Southern Maine Community College — South Portland
How to Choose a University in Maine
Consider your major, tuition, accreditations, location, and career outcomes. Compare financial aid packages and visit campuses.
- Tuition: Compare in-state vs out-of-state rates.
- Accreditation: AACSB (business), ABET (engineering), CCNE (nursing).
- Location: Proximity to employers and internships.
- Campus Culture: Visit to find the right fit.
Maine’s unique coastal economy — centered on lobster aquaculture, maritime industries, tourism, and a growing tech sector in Portland — creates distinctive career pathways for graduates. Maine Maritime Academy prepares officers for the world’s commercial shipping fleet, while USM serves the greater Portland metropolitan area with professional and graduate programs.
Browse our complete Maine university directory.
Comments