2026 Best Value Teaching Schools in Maine
Looking for the best-value Teaching degree programs in Maine? We have ranked 34 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Teaching Degree Search evaluated 5 schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Maine
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is University Of Maine At Farmington, our #1 best-value Teaching school in Maine. This public school is set in Farmington, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,308, compared with $23,878 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,703. University Of Maine At Farmington alumni report median earnings of $44,433 a decade after entry. Set against $25,703 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine At Farmington has an acceptance rate of 97%. More on University Of Maine At Farmington
Out of the 5 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, University Of Southern Maine landed the #2 spot. Based in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. Graduates carry a median of $23,593 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,958. Set against $23,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Maine has an acceptance rate of 79%. Read more about University Of Southern Maine
You'll get strong value at Saint Josephs College Of Maine, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,420. Students borrow a median of $26,625 to complete their Teaching program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,045. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. Saint Josephs College Of Maine admits about 84% of applicants. More on Saint Josephs College Of Maine
Out of the 5 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, University Of Maine landed the #4 spot. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Typical Teaching student debt is $25,984. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,653 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 97%. Read more about University Of Maine
University Of New England came in at #5 on this year's best-value Teaching ranking in Maine. University Of New England is a private not-for-profit school based in Biddeford, ME. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. University Of New England Teaching students take on a median of $26,838 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $55,921. That is a strong return on a $26,838 median debt. University Of New England has an acceptance rate of 92%. More on University Of New England
Unity College landed the #6 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Unity College
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions placed #7 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. More on Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
The Landing School placed #8 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Get the full The Landing School report
Empire Beauty School Maine came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. See the full Empire Beauty School Maine profile
College Of The Atlantic came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Read more about College Of The Atlantic
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. More on Spa Tech Institute Westbrook
University Of Maine System Central Office placed #13 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Read the full report on University Of Maine System Central Office
Washington County Community College placed #14 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Read more about Washington County Community College
Colby College
Colby College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Colby College
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. More on Maine Maritime Academy
Southern Maine Community College placed #17 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Read more about Southern Maine Community College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College placed #18 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Read more about Bowdoin College
Northeast Technical Institute came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northeast Technical Institute profile
University Of Maine At Augusta came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Maine At Augusta profile
Eastern Maine Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Eastern Maine Community College
Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts landed the #22 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts
Bates College
Bates College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. More on Bates College
Thomas College
Thomas College landed the #24 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Thomas College
University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Maine At Presque Isle report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Teaching Degree Schools in Maine
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
York County Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Teaching schools. See the full York County Community College profile
Maine Media College landed the #27 spot for value in Maine this year. Read more about Maine Media College
Central Maine Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Central Maine Community College report
Husson University offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Husson University
Northern Maine Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. See the full Northern Maine Community College profile
Maine College Of Art offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Maine College Of Art
Capilo School Of Hair Design landed the #32 spot for value in Maine this year. Get the full Capilo School Of Hair Design report
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #33 among the best-value Teaching schools in Maine. Read the full report on Kennebec Valley Community College
University Of Maine At Fort Kent came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on University Of Maine At Fort Kent
More Teaching Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Teaching Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Best Colleges For Money · Scope: State · 5 schools evaluated. *Averages shown above reflect the top 34 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).