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As the 42ndmost populous state in the union, Maine has approximately 35,000 square miles of land. The state has a heavily forested interior with low, rolling mountains and a breathtaking coastline. The diversity in topography parallels the diversity in public schools insofar as their enrollment numbers, campus, and educational offerings. In terms of public universities, Maine is home to a number of state schools. State colleges in Maine include locations ranging from Orono and Fort Kent to Portland and Castine. Top ranked public colleges in Maine include University of Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Augusta, University of Maine at Fort Kent, and University of Maine at Farmington.
2025 Best Public Colleges in Maine
Maine Maritime Academy provides a variety of educational opportunities for students to guide them in their growth and development. The school is located in Castine, ME and publically funded. The low student to teacher ratio and access to faculty and teachers are due primarily to the limited enrollment, approximately 950 students, maintained by Maine Maritime Academy. Here is a list of some of the popular programs Maine Maritime Academy offers:
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Marine Science, Merchant Marine Officer
- International Business
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Football (NCAA Division III)
- Golf (NCAA Division III)
Enrollment
997
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
University of Maine at Farmington provides a variety of educational opportunities for students to assist them in their growth and development. The school is located in Farmington, ME and publically funded. University of Maine at Farmington has an annual student enrollment of about two thousand.
Students may select from several areas of study, including:
- Education
- Psychology
- Business And Marketing Studies
- English Language And Literature
To be considered for admissions, you may be required to complete an application, write a personal statement, and submit test scores or other school records, which are then studied by the admissions staff. Roughly 80 percent of all students that applied were admitted at UMF, with 37 percent of those admitted choosing to attend.
The cost of undergraduate tuition is different for in-state and out-of-state residents. In-state residents pay approximately $10,000, while nonresidents pay $20,000 per year. Housing may be available for students who wish to live on-campus at an estimated cost of $4,800 each year. Financial aid may be provided to students that meet the required requirements by way of scholarships, grants, and loans.
UMF offers several athletic programs overseen by the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered:
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)
Students who wish to get more about UMF may visit their website at http://www.umf.maine.edu.
Enrollment
2,040
Student to Faculty Ratio
12:1
UMaine provides a variety of program options for students to guide them in their growth and development. The school is located in Orono, ME and publically funded. As a land grant institution this school is among larger public institutions in the state of Maine. Enrollment at University of Maine is nearly 12,000 per year.
Here is a list of some of the popular programs University of Maine offers:
- Psychology
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Engineering
- Biological And Biomedical Sciences
To be considered for admissions, students may be required to fill out an application, write a personal statement, and submit high school records and test scores, which are then studied by admissions staff. The most common test scores among applicants admitted to this school are within the range of 21 to 27 for the ACT exam, or 1430 to 1770 for the SAT exam. 78% of students that apply are admitted to University of Maine, of which 32% choose to attend. More information from the admissions office can be found at umaine.edu.
The tuition at this school varies based on the state of residence of the student. In-state residents pay nearly $12,000 per year, while out-of-state residents are charged $29,000 for the year. School housing is available on-campus for students. The yearly cost of housing is about $5,000. Students attending UMaine may be eligible for aid which is typically scholarships, grants, and loans.
The UMaine Black Bears participate in a number of athletic programs, with competitions managed and overseen by the NCAA. Athletic programs that are available include:
- Baseball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Basketball (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division I-AA)
- Field Hockey (NCAA Division I-AA)
Students can visit the University of Maine website to obtain a complete list of areas of study, programs, student services, and more.
Enrollment
11,404
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
University of Southern Maine provides a variety of program options for students to guide them in their growth and development. The school is located in Portland, ME and publically funded. Approximately 9,700 students are enrolled yearly at USM. Areas of study offered at University of Southern Maine include:
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Legal Professions And Studies
- Social Sciences
- Psychology
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Track & Field (NCAA Division III)
Enrollment
8,140
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
University of Maine at Presque Isle is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and assists students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Presque Isle, Maine, which is a predominantly rural area. University of Maine at Presque Isle has an annual student enrollment of approximately 1,400. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:
- Liberal Arts And Sciences
- Education
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Public Administration And Social Services
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Visual And Performing Arts
- Baseball (NCAA Division III)
- Basketball (NCAA Division III)
- Golf (NCAA Division III)
- Skiing (NCAA Division III)
Enrollment
1,553
Student to Faculty Ratio
13:1
University of Maine at Fort Kent, a public institution, offers a large number of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Fort Kent, ME, the school resides in a rural setting for students to study in. Approximately 1,100 students are enrolled per year at University of Maine at Fort Kent. Here is a list of some of the popular programs University of Maine at Fort Kent offers:
- Nursing Science
- Elementary Education
- Secondary Education
- Commerce
Enrollment
1,791
Student to Faculty Ratio
14:1
University of Maine at Machias provides a variety of program options for students to aid them in their growth and development. The school is located in Machias, ME and publically funded. The higher teacher/student ratio and access to teachers is due primarily to the limited enrollment, around 1000 students, maintained by University of Maine-Machias. Areas of study available at University of Maine at Machias include but are not limited to:
- Behavioral Science
- General Studies
- Parks and Recreation
- Biology
Enrollment
675
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
University of Maine at Augusta, a public institution, offers a large number of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Augusta, ME, the school resides in a rural setting for students to study in. Enrollment at UMA exceeds five thousand yearly. Areas of study available at UMA include:
- Health And Clinical Professions
- Liberal Arts And Sciences
- Business And Marketing Studies
- Science Technology
Enrollment
4,128
Student to Faculty Ratio
16:1
Public University Degrees in Maine

In addition to being some of the best colleges in the Northeast, the Maine state school system offers students the ability to specialize in a variety of programs. The University of Maine School of Law is one of the best law programs in the country that consistently receives national acclaim. Specialized programs for this region also include degree tracks likemarine biology,environmental science,art, andhydrology. To learn more about the schools in the Maine public university system and the degree programs offered by these schools, simply utilize this portal to connect to schools in an efficient manner or via our dedicated searchportaltoday.
University of Maine System
The 6 schools listed below are part of the University of Maine System. By following the links below, you can view each school's profile in detail.
Thomas College in Portland, ME

Visit the website for Thomas College at http://www.thomas.edu
Program Details
- 5,000 to 9,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $29,000 per year
University of Maine (University of Maine-Machias) in Machias, ME

Visit the website for University of Maine at http://www.umaine.edu/

Program Details
- Less Than 1,000 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $12,000 per year for state residents ($33,000 Nonresidents)
University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) in Augusta, ME

Visit the website for University of Maine at Farmington at http://www.umf.maine.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $10,000 per year for state residents ($20,000 Nonresidents)
University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) in Farmington, ME

Visit the website for University of Maine at Fort Kent at http://www.umfk.maine.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $9,000 per year for state residents ($13,000 Nonresidents)
University of Maine at Machias (University of Maine-Machias) in Fort Kent, ME

Visit the website for University of Maine at Machias at http://machias.edu
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $8,000 per year for state residents ($16,000 Nonresidents)
University of New England (UMPI) in Presque Isle, ME

Visit the website for University of New England at http://www.une.edu/

Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $41,000 per year
Other Public 4-Year State Universities & Colleges
Below is a list of other 4-year state universities and colleges in Maine.
University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) in Castine, ME

Visit the website for University of Maine at Presque Isle at http://www.umpi.edu/
Program Details
- 1,000 to 4,999 Undergraduate Students Enrolled
- Tuition & fees $9,000 per year for state residents ($13,000 Nonresidents)
Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Maine in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.
Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.