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Source: National Center for Educational Statistics. This is the most recent data available as of January 2020
Questions & Answers
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What do all these numbers mean?
All costs are the average net cost paid by families in each income bracket. Net cost is the total cost of attendance minus government grants and institutional scholarships. Loans of any kind are not included. Figures are based on data from the 2017-18 school year, which is the latest available as of January 2020.
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What is “Total Cost” on the chart?
Total cost is the total cost of attendance for 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 $17,532 and the average private school would be $25,293. 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 seemed 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 our Scholarship Guide For Busy Parents, which describes how you and your student can win scholarships for college and save money!)
- tax planning
- student work
Net Price:
Net price is the total cost of attendance minus the average amount of government grants and institutional scholarships awarded. 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 (2017-18) | |
|---|---|
| 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 2017-18 school year. This is the latest data available as of January 2020. 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 $21,897 | ME Private $52,499 |
| $0 - $30k | $10,353 | $16,097 |
| $30,001 – $48k | $11,175 | $17,574 |
| $48,001 – $75k | $14,278 | $20,556 |
| $75,001 – $110k | $17,532 | $25,293 |
| $110,001+ | $17,748 | $32,252 |
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 $6,000-$15,000 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 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,808 $7,988 Room and Board $7,200 $7,200 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,600 $3,600 Total $19,808 $19,988 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,597 $8,675 $30,001 - $48k $9,988 $10,079 $48,001 - $75k $12,343 $12,455 $75,001 - $110k $15,351 $15,490 $110,001+ $15,479 $15,620 -
University of Maine at Farmington
Farmington Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $9,458 $9,118 Room and Board $9,334 $9,626 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $2,854 $2,918 Total $22,546 $22,562 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $11,251 $11,259 $30,001 - $48k $11,206 $11,214 $48,001 - $75k $13,959 $13,969 $75,001 - $110k $18,047 $18,060 $110,001+ $20,174 $20,188 -
University of Maine at Fort Kent
Fort Kent Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,965 $8,115 Room and Board $7,910 $8,220 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,797 $2,500 Total $19,672 $19,835 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,669 $8,741 $30,001 - $48k $10,890 $10,980 $48,001 - $75k $13,620 $13,733 $75,001 - $110k $16,939 $17,079 $110,001+ $17,104 $17,246 -
University of Maine at Machias
Machias Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,680 $7,830 Room and Board $8,486 $8,795 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,466 $19,925 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,742 $6,901 $30,001 - $48k $6,234 $6,381 $48,001 - $75k $10,827 $11,082 $75,001 - $110k $15,588 $15,956 $110,001+ $14,511 $14,853
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University of Maine
Orono Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $10,902 $11,170 Room and Board $10,136 $10,718 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,200 $2,200 Total $24,238 $25,088 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $12,328 $12,760 $30,001 - $48k $13,676 $14,156 $48,001 - $75k $16,490 $17,068 $75,001 - $110k $18,971 $19,636 $110,001+ $20,479 $21,197 -
Maine Maritime Academy
Castine Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $13,278 $13,478 Room and Board $10,110 $10,310 Books $1,000 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,900 $2,900 Total $27,288 $27,688 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $17,909 $18,172 $30,001 - $48k $19,437 $19,722 $48,001 - $75k $22,549 $22,880 $75,001 - $110k $25,664 $26,040 $110,001+ $24,213 $24,568 -
University of Maine at Presque Isle
Presque Isle Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $7,884 $8,035 Room and Board $8,264 $8,406 Books $900 $1,000 Other Expenses $2,500 $2,500 Total $19,548 $19,941 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,453 $8,623 $30,001 - $48k $8,615 $8,788 $48,001 - $75k $11,175 $11,400 $75,001 - $110k $13,386 $13,655 $110,001+ $13,336 $13,604 -
University of Southern Maine
Portland Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $8,638 $8,918 Room and Board $9,774 $9,850 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $3,000 $3,000 Total $22,612 $22,968 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $8,874 $9,014 $30,001 - $48k $9,350 $9,497 $48,001 - $75k $13,260 $13,469 $75,001 - $110k $16,311 $16,568 $110,001+ $16,691 $16,954
Private ME Schools Cost Breakdown
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College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $43,542 $43,542 Room and Board $9,747 $9,747 Books $600 $549 Other Expenses $1,080 $1,080 Total $54,969 $54,918 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,482 $13,469 $30,001 - $48k $17,970 $17,953 $48,001 - $75k $16,177 $16,162 $75,001 - $110k $21,882 $21,862 $110,001+ $30,761 $30,732 -
Bates College
Lewiston Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $52,042 $53,794 Room and Board $14,678 $15,224 Books $900 $900 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $68,870 $71,168 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $7,779 $8,039 $30,001 - $48k $9,079 $9,382 $48,001 - $75k $11,669 $12,058 $75,001 - $110k $22,181 $22,921 $110,001+ $40,890 $42,254 -
Bowdoin College
Brunswick Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $51,848 $53,922 Room and Board $14,132 $14,698 Books $840 $840 Other Expenses $1,250 $1,250 Total $68,070 $70,710 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $6,123 $6,360 $30,001 - $48k $8,329 $8,652 $48,001 - $75k $17,078 $17,740 $75,001 - $110k $21,013 $21,828 $110,001+ $36,344 $37,754 -
Colby College
Waterville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $53,120 $55,210 Room and Board $13,660 $14,190 Books $735 $800 Other Expenses $1,067 $1,002 Total $68,582 $71,202 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $1,065 $1,106 $30,001 - $48k $1,661 $1,724 $48,001 - $75k $7,011 $7,279 $75,001 - $110k $19,766 $20,521 $110,001+ $36,708 $38,110
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University of New England
Biddeford Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $36,530 $37,620 Room and Board $13,580 $14,790 Books $1,400 $1,400 Other Expenses $2,750 $2,750 Total $54,260 $56,560 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $29,087 $30,320 $30,001 - $48k $28,788 $30,008 $48,001 - $75k $31,319 $32,647 $75,001 - $110k $34,281 $35,734 $110,001+ $36,729 $38,286 -
Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Standish Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $34,610 $35,650 Room and Board $13,280 $13,680 Books $1,200 $1,200 Other Expenses $1,700 $1,700 Total $50,790 $52,230 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,556 $23,196 $30,001 - $48k $23,084 $23,738 $48,001 - $75k $25,632 $26,359 $75,001 - $110k $26,913 $27,676 $110,001+ $29,109 $29,934 -
Thomas College
Waterville Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $26,110 $26,900 Room and Board $10,800 $11,250 Books $800 $800 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $39,710 $40,950 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $18,787 $19,374 $30,001 - $48k $18,496 $19,074 $48,001 - $75k $22,104 $22,794 $75,001 - $110k $22,942 $23,658 $110,001+ $24,477 $25,241 -
Unity College
Unity Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $28,350 $29,160 Room and Board $10,400 $10,710 Books $500 $500 Other Expenses $1,310 $1,350 Total $40,560 $41,720 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $22,571 $23,217 $30,001 - $48k $24,764 $25,472 $48,001 - $75k $25,524 $26,254 $75,001 - $110k $27,245 $28,024 $110,001+ $29,778 $30,630 -
Husson University
Bangor Year 2017-18 2018-19 Tuition and Fees $17,561 $18,170 Room and Board $9,498 $9,830 Books $1,150 $1,150 Other Expenses $2,000 $2,000 Total $30,209 $31,150 Family Income Net Cost (Actual) Net Cost (Estimated) $0-$30k $13,897 $14,330 $30,001 - $48k $13,989 $14,425 $48,001 - $75k $17,132 $17,666 $75,001 - $110k $22,450 $23,149 $110,001+ $24,510 $25,273
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