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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2023
Questions & Answers
What do all these numbers mean?
All costs shown here are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket for one year at the college in question. Net cost is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Figures are based on data from the 2020-21 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2023.
What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for one year at that particular college. It includes:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
There are detailed chart below for each school that shows these expenses. Click here to go to the individual cost breakdown for schools.
How can I use this information?
This information is useful for building a realistic college budget. It's a good place to start until you better understand your specific circumstances. For example, let's say your income is $100,000 per year. This chart shows that the average state school would run $15,878 and the average private school would be $24,730. You can also get information on specific Maine schools in the chart above or the tables below.
Will my family pay the amount on this chart?
Probably not. The numbers are averages. You may be below average or above average. However, there are two key points we can learn from this data:
- Families with higher incomes ($75,000-$110,000 and $110,000+) will most likely pay close to full price at the public schools.
- Private colleges have a higher list price but offer more discounts. This brings their net price much closer to the cost of state-funded schools.
Where did this information come from?
As part of federal financial aid, colleges are required to provide detailed cost information to the U.S. government. This data is made available to the public through the National Center for Education Statistics. For more details, click here.
What about athletes, merit aid or minority students?
Athletes, high achieving students, and those with minority status are averaged in with everyone else. Within each income bracket, there are families that pay more than average and families that pay less than average.
The costs on this chart seem large. How can families afford to pay it?
For many families paying for college is not easy, but in the end they figure out. Most families will pay their net cost of college with some combination of:
- College savings and investments
- Payments from current income
- Loans
- Outside scholarships (check out the Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents to learn how your student can win scholarships)
- Tax planning
- Student work
Net Price:
Net prices is the total cost of attendance for one year, minus the average amount in government grants and institutional scholarships the school awards. This is an average, so you may pay above the average or below the average. Your exact net price is likely to be different and sometimes drastically different.
Most families will pay the net price with some combination of savings and investments, current income and various loans. Some students will also receive scholarships from sources other than the federal or state government or the college. Any scholarships and grants from these outside sources are not included in the data. However, government grants and institutional scholarships are included in the averages.
| Total Cost at University of Maine (2020-21) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $11,744 |
| Room and Board | $11,286 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $2,200 |
| Total | $26,230 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2020-21 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2023. Total costs include:
- Tuition and fees (in-state tuition for public schools)
- Room and board (on campus)
- Books and supplies
- Other expenses (travel and personal)
| College Total Cost | ||
|---|---|---|
| Family Income | ME Public $23,045 | ME Private $55,040 |
| $0 - $30k | $10,449 | $16,814 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $10,809 | $16,846 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $12,805 | $19,374 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $15,878 | $24,730 |
| $110,001+ | $17,689 | $33,577 |
Public vs. Private Averages
This table shows the average total cost of attendance for the Maine public and private colleges we have included in our analysis. The costs include a breakdown of the average net price paid by family income. Notice that the average private college is $7,000-$16,000 more than the average public school, depending on your income bracket. It is important to stress that these are averages. Most families will not be average, and their individual circumstances could be drastically different. I encourage all families to work with their preferred colleges to get information specific to their family.
Below are similar charts for each individual private and public college in Maine. Click a school to view its complete chart.
Public ME Schools Cost Breakdown
-
University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,378 $8,378 Room and Board $8,200 $8,200 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,600 Total $21,378 $21,378 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,400 $8,400 $30,001 - $48k $9,190 $9,190 $48,001 - $75k $10,978 $10,978 $75,001 - $110k $12,537 $12,537 $110,001+ $14,635 $14,635 -
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,572 $9,590 Room and Board $10,238 $10,336 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $3,046 $3,046 Total $23,756 $23,872 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,993 $11,047 $30,001 - $48k $11,225 $11,280 $48,001 - $75k $13,313 $13,378 $75,001 - $110k $17,488 $17,573 $110,001+ $20,209 $20,308 -
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,475 $8,505 Room and Board $8,010 $9,120 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,985 $21,125 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,344 $7,763 $30,001 - $48k $8,142 $8,606 $48,001 - $75k $9,672 $10,224 $75,001 - $110k $12,248 $12,947 $110,001+ $14,194 $15,004
-
University of Maine
Orono Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $11,744 $11,986 Room and Board $11,286 $11,712 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,270 Total $26,230 $26,968 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,310 $13,684 $30,001 - $48k $13,755 $14,142 $48,001 - $75k $15,580 $16,018 $75,001 - $110k $19,934 $20,495 $110,001+ $20,828 $21,414 -
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $14,058 $14,338 Room and Board $10,720 $10,910 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,900 $3,000 Total $28,678 $29,248 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,681 $20,072 $30,001 - $48k $19,340 $19,724 $48,001 - $75k $21,995 $22,432 $75,001 - $110k $24,935 $25,431 $110,001+ $26,741 $27,273 -
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $8,585 $8,495 Room and Board $8,912 $9,010 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $20,897 $20,905 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,253 $7,256 $30,001 - $48k $7,678 $7,681 $48,001 - $75k $9,333 $9,337 $75,001 - $110k $11,390 $11,394 $110,001+ $12,888 $12,893 -
University of Southern Maine
Portland Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $9,528 $9,904 Room and Board $10,124 $10,338 Books $600 $600 Other Expenses $3,000 $3,000 Total $23,252 $23,842 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,164 $6,320 $30,001 - $48k $6,336 $6,497 $48,001 - $75k $8,766 $8,988 $75,001 - $110k $12,614 $12,934 $110,001+ $14,330 $14,694
Private ME Schools Cost Breakdown
-
College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $43,542 $43,542 Room and Board $9,747 $9,747 Books $600 $600 Other Expenses $1,080 $1,080 Total $54,969 $54,969 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,391 $14,391 $30,001 - $48k $13,709 $13,709 $48,001 - $75k $18,164 $18,164 $75,001 - $110k $25,073 $25,073 $110,001+ $33,995 $33,995 -
Bates College
Lewiston Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $57,353 $59,062 Room and Board $16,177 $16,658 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $75,680 $77,870 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,735 $4,872 $30,001 - $48k $5,268 $5,420 $48,001 - $75k $9,925 $10,212 $75,001 - $110k $23,645 $24,329 $110,001+ $40,663 $41,840 -
Bowdoin College
Brunswick Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $56,350 $58,322 Room and Board $13,440 $15,898 Books $840 $840 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $71,880 $76,310 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,531 $4,810 $30,001 - $48k $5,803 $6,161 $48,001 - $75k $10,270 $10,903 $75,001 - $110k $19,496 $20,698 $110,001+ $43,454 $46,132 -
Colby College
Waterville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $59,430 $61,220 Room and Board $15,295 $15,745 Books $850 $850 Other Expenses $850 $850 Total $76,425 $78,665 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $3,982 $4,099 $30,001 - $48k $4,519 $4,651 $48,001 - $75k $3,314 $3,411 $75,001 - $110k $15,255 $15,702 $110,001+ $40,947 $42,147
-
University of New England
Biddeford Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $38,750 $39,820 Room and Board $15,230 $15,650 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $2,750 $2,750 Total $58,130 $59,620 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $35,240 $36,143 $30,001 - $48k $28,779 $29,517 $48,001 - $75k $31,864 $32,681 $75,001 - $110k $34,602 $35,489 $110,001+ $39,424 $40,435 -
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $38,820 $39,986 Room and Board $14,500 $14,936 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,700 $1,700 Total $56,220 $57,822 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $26,276 $27,025 $30,001 - $48k $25,997 $26,738 $48,001 - $75k $28,825 $29,646 $75,001 - $110k $31,723 $32,627 $110,001+ $29,673 $30,519 -
Thomas College
Waterville Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $28,430 $29,152 Room and Board $11,560 $11,736 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $3,000 $2,200 Total $43,790 $43,888 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,631 $18,673 $30,001 - $48k $21,645 $21,693 $48,001 - $75k $21,467 $21,515 $75,001 - $110k $22,133 $22,183 $110,001+ $26,011 $26,069 -
Unity College
Unity Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $12,640 $12,640 Room and Board $10,900 $10,900 Books $500 $500 Other Expenses $1,280 $1,280 Total $25,320 $25,320 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $15,511 $15,511 $30,001 - $48k $16,289 $16,289 $48,001 - $75k $17,045 $17,045 $75,001 - $110k $18,667 $18,667 $110,001+ $19,214 $19,214 -
Husson University
Bangor Year 2020-21 2021-22 Tuition and Fees $19,772 $20,430 Room and Board $10,632 $11,006 Books $1,150 $1,150 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $33,554 $34,586 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $14,957 $15,417 $30,001 - $48k $15,883 $16,372 $48,001 - $75k $17,625 $18,167 $75,001 - $110k $21,819 $22,490 $110,001+ $26,029 $26,830
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