There are 39 colleges in Maine - 15 public and 24 private schools. At Maine colleges, rising college costs are evident in the Cost of Attendance (COA), which combines tuition, fees, textbooks, room and board, and personal living expenses; this figure has grown significantly in the last decade.
The total Cost of Attendance has increased substantially at Maine colleges:
Tuition and fees saw dramatic increases across institution types:
| Institution Type | 10-Year Increase (2016-2025) | 2025 Average Tuition & Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Public, In-State | 23.49% (from $9,272 to $11,450) | $11,450 |
| Public, Out-of-State | 41.81% (from $17,108 to $24,261) | $24,261 |
| Private Colleges | 12.87% (from $34,399 to $38,826) | $38,826 |
Note on Degrees: Undergraduate tuition & fees increased by 41.81%, while graduate program tuition & fees increased by -20.09% over the same period.
Over the past 10 years, the COA has increased 36.67% when living on campus and 32.03% when living off campus at Maine Colleges.
In private Maine Colleges, the COA has increase by 17.57% (on-campus) and 13.93% (off-camus). The COA includes tuition, fees, books & supplies, room & board, and other personal expenses.
For the academic year 2024-2025, the total cost of attendance is $41,248 when a student lives on campus and $37,460 when living off campus at Maine Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of COA for Maine Colleges over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $22,344 | $30,180 | $47,471 | $20,537 | $28,373 | $45,664 |
| 2016-17 | $22,743 1.79% | $30,786 2.01% | $47,849 0.80% | $20,474 -0.31% | $28,517 0.51% | $45,580 -0.18% |
| 2017-18 | $23,446 3.09% | $31,827 3.38% | $49,098 2.61% | $21,053 2.83% | $29,434 3.22% | $46,705 2.47% |
| 2018-19 | $24,319 3.72% | $32,407 1.82% | $50,605 3.07% | $21,619 2.69% | $29,707 0.93% | $47,905 2.57% |
| 2019-20 | $23,713 -2.49% | $34,108 5.25% | $52,039 2.83% | $20,980 -2.96% | $31,375 5.61% | $49,306 2.92% |
| 2020-21 | $24,436 3.05% | $35,177 3.13% | $51,802 -0.46% | $21,533 2.64% | $32,274 2.87% | $48,899 -0.83% |
| 2021-22 | $25,196 3.11% | $36,335 3.29% | $53,149 2.60% | $22,105 2.66% | $33,244 3.01% | $50,058 2.37% |
| 2022-23 | $25,718 2.07% | $37,190 2.35% | $55,597 4.61% | $22,397 1.32% | $33,869 1.88% | $52,276 4.43% |
| 2023-24 | $26,979 4.90% | $39,258 5.56% | $55,043 -1.00% | $23,183 3.51% | $35,462 4.70% | $51,247 -1.97% |
| 2024-25 | $28,437 5.40% | $41,248 5.07% | $55,813 1.40% | $24,649 6.32% | $37,460 5.63% | $52,025 1.52% |
For the current year (2025), the average tuition & fees for Maine Colleges is $13,401 for Maine residents and $26,212 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average tuition & fees is $40,048.
For graduate programs, the 2025 average graduate tuition & fees is $12,222 for Maine residents and $17,923 out-of-state students. In private schools, the average graduate program tuition & fees is $30,887.
The tuition & fees has increased 41.81% for undergraduate programs at Maine Colleges. The following table and chart illustrate the changes of tuition & fees by tuition rates and degrees.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | In-State | Out-of-State | Private Schools | |
| 2015-16 | $9,272 | $17,108 | $34,399 | $11,711 | $21,208 | $24,536 |
| 2016-17 | $9,391 1.28% | $17,434 1.91% | $34,497 0.28% | $11,800 0.76% | $21,408 0.94% | $22,703 -7.47% |
| 2017-18 | $9,856 4.95% | $18,237 4.61% | $35,508 2.93% | $11,857 0.48% | $21,642 1.09% | $23,938 5.44% |
| 2018-19 | $10,334 4.85% | $18,422 1.01% | $36,620 3.13% | $13,132 10.75% | $23,082 6.65% | $24,883 3.95% |
| 2019-20 | $9,579 -7.31% | $19,974 8.42% | $37,905 3.51% | $8,450 -35.65% | $18,866 -18.27% | $26,007 4.52% |
| 2020-21 | $9,824 2.56% | $20,565 2.96% | $37,190 -1.89% | $8,557 1.27% | $17,125 -9.23% | $25,479 -2.03% |
| 2021-22 | $10,184 3.66% | $21,323 3.69% | $38,137 2.55% | $9,735 13.77% | $15,699 -8.33% | $25,994 2.02% |
| 2022-23 | $10,194 0.10% | $21,666 1.61% | $40,073 5.08% | $9,071 -6.82% | $16,674 6.21% | $24,102 -7.28% |
| 2023-24 | $10,667 4.64% | $22,946 5.91% | $38,731 -3.35% | $9,561 5.40% | $16,404 -1.62% | $25,075 4.04% |
| 2024-25 | $11,450 7.34% | $24,261 5.73% | $38,826 0.25% | $11,247 17.63% | $16,948 3.32% | $30,079 19.96% |
For the current year (2025), the average book & supplies costs is $1,031 for Maine Colleges. The following table shows the changes of book & supplies costs from year 2016 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies |
|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $947 |
| 2016-17 | $969 2.32% |
| 2017-18 | $978 0.93% |
| 2018-19 | $984 0.61% |
| 2019-20 | $949 -3.56% |
| 2020-21 | $952 0.32% |
| 2021-22 | $963 1.16% |
| 2022-23 | $1,005 4.36% |
| 2023-24 | $1,023 1.79% |
| 2024-25 | $1,031 0.78% |
For Maine Colleges, the living have increased 29.15% when a student lives on campus facilities and 21.70% when living off campus from year 2016 to 2025. The living costs includes costs for room & board, and other living expenses.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $12,125 | $12,834 |
| 2016-17 | $12,383 2.75% | $12,789 1.56% |
| 2017-18 | $12,612 2.17% | $13,129 -0.14% |
| 2018-19 | $13,001 3.66% | $13,518 1.04% |
| 2019-20 | $13,185 0.89% | $13,459 3.98% |
| 2020-21 | $13,660 3.71% | $13,931 3.02% |
| 2021-22 | $14,049 4.43% | $14,317 3.90% |
| 2022-23 | $14,519 3.60% | $14,797 2.22% |
| 2023-24 | $15,289 4.70% | $15,507 1.91% |
| 2024-25 | $15,956 5.26% | $16,115 8.36% |