2026 Best Nursing Schools in Maine
Looking for the best Nursing degree programs in Maine? Our ranking highlights 34 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 31 schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Nursing Degree Schools in Maine
Explore the leading schools below:
Beal College tops our 2026 ranking of the best Nursing degree schools in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Beal College is a private for-profit institution. Beal College Nursing students take on a median of $23,557 in debt. Read more about Beal College
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University Of Maine At Presque Isle came in at #2 on this year's Nursing ranking in Maine. University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public school based in Presque Isle, ME. Roughly 24% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Students borrow a median of $23,434 to complete their Nursing program here. Get the full University Of Maine At Presque Isle report
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You'll be in good company at University Of Maine At Fort Kent, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Fort Kent, ME, University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public institution. Roughly 34% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $9,420, while out-of-state students pay about $14,880. University Of Maine At Fort Kent Nursing students take on a median of $30,447 in debt. Get the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent report
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Out of the 31 schools in Maine in this year's ranking, Eastern Maine Community College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Bangor, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Students borrow a median of $17,741 to complete their Nursing program here. Read more about Eastern Maine Community College
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Husson University came in at #5 on this year's Nursing ranking in Maine. Based in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 59% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. The median Nursing program debt is $27,735. More on Husson University
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University Of New England placed #6 among Nursing schools in Maine. This private not-for-profit school is set in Biddeford, ME. University Of New England graduates 70% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,210. Students borrow a median of $26,838 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on University Of New England
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Northern Maine Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Presque Isle, ME, Northern Maine Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $16,013 in student loans. More on Northern Maine Community College
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Saint Josephs College Of Maine came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Set in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 66% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $44,420. Saint Josephs College Of Maine Nursing students take on a median of $26,625 in debt. More on Saint Josephs College Of Maine
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University Of Maine came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. University Of Maine posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Typical Nursing student debt is $25,984. Read more about University Of Maine
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Southern Maine Community College did well this year, earning the #10 position. Southern Maine Community College is a public school based in South Portland, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Typical Nursing student debt is $13,869. Read the full report on Southern Maine Community College
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University Of Maine At Augusta placed #11 among Nursing schools in Maine. University Of Maine At Augusta is a public school based in Augusta, ME. University Of Maine At Augusta posts a six-year graduation rate of 26%. Students from in state pay about $8,888 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,178. University Of Maine At Augusta Nursing students take on a median of $29,313 in debt. Read the full report on University Of Maine At Augusta
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University Of Southern Maine did well this year, earning the #12 position. Based in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 40%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,090, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Students borrow a median of $23,593 to complete their Nursing program here. Read the full report on University Of Southern Maine
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Central Maine Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Central Maine Community College is a public school based in Auburn, ME. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. The median Nursing program debt is $14,700. More on Central Maine Community College
Request InformationWashington County Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Washington County Community College
Request InformationThe Landing School came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Get the full The Landing School report
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Unity College
Unity College came in at #16 in this year's ranking. More on Unity College
Request InformationMaine Maritime Academy placed #17 among Nursing schools in Maine. Get the full Maine Maritime Academy report
Request InformationCentral Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions landed the #18 spot in Maine this year. Read the full report on Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
Request InformationNortheast Technical Institute ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read the full report on Northeast Technical Institute
Request InformationCapilo School Of Hair Design ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. More on Capilo School Of Hair Design
Request InformationEmpire Beauty School Maine came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Empire Beauty School Maine report
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Bates College
Bates College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Get the full Bates College report
Request InformationMaine Media College did well this year, earning the #23 position. Get the full Maine Media College report
Request InformationYork County Community College landed the #24 spot in Maine this year. Get the full York County Community College report
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Thomas College
Thomas College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Get the full Thomas College report
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Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Maine System Central Office placed #26 among Nursing schools in Maine. Read the full report on University Of Maine System Central Office
Request InformationUniversity Of Maine At Farmington landed the #27 spot in Maine this year. Read more about University Of Maine At Farmington
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Colby College
Colby College ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Nursing schools. Read more about Colby College
Request InformationMaine College Of Art did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read the full report on Maine College Of Art
Request InformationSpa Tech Institute Westbrook came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Spa Tech Institute Westbrook
Request InformationInstitute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts placed #31 among Nursing schools in Maine. Get the full Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts report
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Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College placed #32 among Nursing schools in Maine. Read the full report on Bowdoin College
Request InformationKennebec Valley Community College came in at #33 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Kennebec Valley Community College
Request InformationCollege Of The Atlantic did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full College Of The Atlantic profile
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Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: State · 31 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).
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