Best College ROI in Me 2026
19 colleges in Me analyzed for return on investment. University of Maine at Presque Isle leads with a ROI Score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY).
Me has 19 colleges tracked in the Department of Education's College Scorecard, split between 7 public institutions and 12 private ones. Across the 19 schools with enough data to score, graduates of the top-paying major at each school carry a median federal debt of $23K and earn $78K in their first year out — the gap that determines whether a degree pays back.
95% of Me colleges earn an A or B on the ROI Score, with the rest landing at C or below. First-year earnings top out at Husson University (median $95K on Computer Programming). The lowest median debt comes from University of Maine at Presque Isle at $16K.
All numbers come from the latest College Scorecard release, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients only — graduates who paid cash or used private loans aren't in this dataset, so actual median debt at high-income schools may be lower than shown. The ROI Score weights debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), BLS job outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%).
Top 3 Best ROI Colleges in Me
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Public · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Tops Me's ROI rankings on its Mathematics program. Graduates earn a median $78K in their first year against $16K in median debt.
Bates College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Second-best ROI in the state, driven by Mathematics. Five-year median earnings: $126K.
Bowdoin College
Private · Verdict: STRONG BUY
Third on the ROI Score with Mathematics. Graduation rate 10000%, debt $21K.
Top 19 Colleges by ROI in Me
| # | School | Best Major | Median Debt | 1yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maine at Presque Isle(public) | Mathematics | $16K | $78K | A (98) |
| 2 | Bates College(private) | Mathematics | $18K | $78K | A (97) |
| 3 | Bowdoin College(private) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (96) |
| 4 | Husson University(private) | Computer Programming | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 5 | Thomas College(private) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $22K | $95K | A (96) |
| 6 | University of Maine at Fort Kent(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $21K | $95K | A (96) |
| 7 | Colby College(private) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 8 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine(private) | Mathematics | $22K | $78K | A (95) |
| 9 | University of Maine(public) | Computer Science | $21K | $95K | A (95) |
| 10 | University of Maine at Augusta(public) | Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $24K | $95K | A (95) |
| 11 | University of Maine at Farmington(public) | Mathematics | $21K | $78K | A (95) |
| 12 | University of Southern Maine(public) | Mechanical Engineering | $22K | $92K | A (85) |
| 13 | Maine Maritime Academy(public) | Systems Engineering | $23K | $92K | A (84) |
| 14 | University of New England(private) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $24K | $62K | B (79) |
| 15 | Beal University(private) | Health and Medical Administrative Services | $32K | $62K | B (77) |
| 16 | Maine College of Health Professions(private) | Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | $30K | $62K | B (77) |
| 17 | Unity Environmental University(private) | Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | $22K | $55K | B (75) |
| 18 | Maine College of Art & Design(private) | Graphic Communications | $27K | $48K | B (66) |
| 19 | College of the Atlantic(private) | Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $25K | $45K | C (64) |
College debt and earnings data for Me is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which tracks outcomes for federal financial aid recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
University of Maine at Presque Isle has the best ROI in Me with a score of 98/100 (STRONG BUY). The top major is Mathematics, with $78K in first-year median earnings against $16K in median debt.
Across 19 Me colleges with ROI data, graduates carry a median debt of about $23K on the best-paying major at each school. First-year median earnings on those same programs average $78K.
Husson University graduates earn the most one year out, with median first-year pay of $95K on its top major (Computer Programming). After five years, those graduates earn a median of $147K.
Me has 19 colleges in our database (7 public, 12 private). Of the 19 with reportable ROI, 95% earn an A or B grade.
The ROI Score (0-100) weighs debt-to-income ratio (35%), earnings premium over a high school graduate (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), and debt vs. national average (10%). Scores are graded A-F with verdicts from "Strong Buy" to "Avoid." Data comes from the College Scorecard and BLS occupational projections.
ROI Score: debt-to-income (35%), earnings premium (25%), job market outlook (20%), graduation rate (10%), debt vs. national average (10%).