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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2021
Questions & Answers
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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 2018-19 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2021.
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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.
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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 $16,715 and the average private school would be $24,115. You can also get information on specific Maine schools in the chart above or the tables below.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 (2018-19) | |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees | $10,902 |
| Room and Board | $10,136 |
| Books | $1,000 |
| Other Expenses | $2,200 |
| Total | $24,238 |
Total Cost:
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for that particular institution for the 2018-19 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2021. 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 $22,249 | ME Private $49,061 |
| $0 - $30k | $11,240 | $16,059 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $11,802 | $17,687 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $13,661 | $19,608 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $16,715 | $24,115 |
| $110,001+ | $17,915 | $33,646 |
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 $5,000-$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
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University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $7,988 $8,168 Room and Board $7,200 $8,000 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,600 Total $19,988 $20,968 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,287 $9,742 $30,001 - $48k $8,986 $9,427 $48,001 - $75k $11,007 $11,547 $75,001 - $110k $15,244 $15,991 $110,001+ $15,486 $16,245 -
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $9,118 $9,344 Room and Board $9,626 $9,902 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,918 $2,986 Total $22,562 $23,132 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,215 $11,498 $30,001 - $48k $12,630 $12,949 $48,001 - $75k $13,902 $14,253 $75,001 - $110k $17,976 $18,430 $110,001+ $19,668 $20,165 -
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,115 $8,295 Room and Board $8,220 $8,450 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,835 $20,245 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $10,318 $10,531 $30,001 - $48k $9,204 $9,394 $48,001 - $75k $10,903 $11,128 $75,001 - $110k $15,225 $15,540 $110,001+ $17,260 $17,617 -
University of Maine at Machias
Machias Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $7,830 $8,036 Room and Board $8,795 $9,180 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,925 $20,516 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,818 $8,050 $30,001 - $48k $7,466 $7,687 $48,001 - $75k $10,082 $10,381 $75,001 - $110k $12,177 $12,538 $110,001+ $13,201 $13,593
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University of Maine
Orono Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $11,170 $11,438 Room and Board $10,718 $10,966 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,200 Total $25,088 $25,604 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,989 $14,277 $30,001 - $48k $14,458 $14,755 $48,001 - $75k $17,218 $17,572 $75,001 - $110k $20,312 $20,730 $110,001+ $20,987 $21,419 -
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $13,478 $13,792 Room and Board $10,310 $10,516 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,900 $2,900 Total $27,688 $28,208 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,331 $19,694 $30,001 - $48k $23,097 $23,531 $48,001 - $75k $23,469 $23,910 $75,001 - $110k $23,250 $23,687 $110,001+ $24,916 $25,384 -
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,035 $8,330 Room and Board $8,406 $8,496 Books $1,000 $900 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,941 $20,226 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $9,206 $9,338 $30,001 - $48k $9,279 $9,412 $48,001 - $75k $10,025 $10,168 $75,001 - $110k $12,990 $13,176 $110,001+ $14,778 $14,989 -
University of Southern Maine
Portland Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $8,918 $9,226 Room and Board $9,850 $9,956 Books $1,200 $600 Other Expenses $3,000 $3,000 Total $22,968 $22,782 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,753 $8,682 $30,001 - $48k $9,295 $9,220 $48,001 - $75k $12,684 $12,581 $75,001 - $110k $16,543 $16,409 $110,001+ $17,027 $16,889
Private ME Schools Cost Breakdown
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College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $43,542 $43,542 Room and Board $9,747 $9,747 Books $549 $600 Other Expenses $1,080 $1,080 Total $54,918 $54,969 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,365 $13,377 $30,001 - $48k $12,759 $12,771 $48,001 - $75k $15,171 $15,185 $75,001 - $110k $20,973 $20,992 $110,001+ $30,034 $30,062 -
Bates College
Lewiston Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $53,794 $55,683 Room and Board $15,224 $15,705 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $71,168 $73,538 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $4,618 $4,772 $30,001 - $48k $9,039 $9,340 $48,001 - $75k $14,782 $15,274 $75,001 - $110k $20,124 $20,794 $110,001+ $44,330 $45,806 -
Bowdoin College
Brunswick Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $53,922 $56,350 Room and Board $14,698 $15,360 Books $840 $840 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $70,710 $73,800 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $5,626 $5,872 $30,001 - $48k $12,603 $13,154 $48,001 - $75k $14,539 $15,174 $75,001 - $110k $20,816 $21,726 $110,001+ $39,701 $41,436 -
Colby College
Waterville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $55,210 $57,280 Room and Board $14,190 $14,720 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $1,002 $800 Total $71,202 $73,600 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $2,335 $2,414 $30,001 - $48k $3,467 $3,584 $48,001 - $75k $5,107 $5,279 $75,001 - $110k $13,413 $13,865 $110,001+ $38,621 $39,922
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University of New England
Biddeford Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $37,620 $38,750 Room and Board $14,790 $14,410 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $2,750 $2,750 Total $56,560 $57,310 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $29,294 $29,682 $30,001 - $48k $30,029 $30,427 $48,001 - $75k $30,600 $31,006 $75,001 - $110k $34,275 $34,729 $110,001+ $37,216 $37,709 -
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $35,650 $36,720 Room and Board $13,680 $14,090 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,700 $1,700 Total $52,230 $53,710 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,729 $22,345 $30,001 - $48k $23,029 $23,682 $48,001 - $75k $23,263 $23,922 $75,001 - $110k $27,653 $28,437 $110,001+ $31,027 $31,906 -
Thomas College
Waterville Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $26,900 $27,720 Room and Board $11,250 $11,420 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,200 Total $40,950 $42,140 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $19,284 $19,844 $30,001 - $48k $17,535 $18,045 $48,001 - $75k $18,419 $18,954 $75,001 - $110k $22,030 $22,670 $110,001+ $25,860 $26,611 -
Unity College
Unity Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $29,160 $30,000 Room and Board $10,710 $11,030 Books $500 $500 Other Expenses $1,350 $1,350 Total $41,720 $42,880 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $21,833 $22,440 $30,001 - $48k $23,841 $24,504 $48,001 - $75k $25,363 $26,068 $75,001 - $110k $25,973 $26,695 $110,001+ $30,238 $31,079 -
Husson University
Bangor Year 2018-19 2019-20 Tuition and Fees $18,170 $18,940 Room and Board $9,830 $10,223 Books $1,150 $1,150 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $31,150 $32,313 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,870 $14,388 $30,001 - $48k $13,868 $14,386 $48,001 - $75k $17,084 $17,722 $75,001 - $110k $20,855 $21,634 $110,001+ $24,791 $25,717
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