2026 Best Value Nursing Schools in Maine
Looking for the best-value Nursing degree programs in Maine? Our ranking highlights 34 schools 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.
To arm you with the information you need, Nursing Degree Search reviewed 13 schools to build 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 Nursing Degree Schools in Maine
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Eastern Maine Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in Maine. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,704. Set against $17,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read more about Eastern Maine Community College
Northern Maine Community College came in at #2 on this year's best-value Nursing ranking in Maine. 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. Median earnings reach $43,348 ten years out. Set against $16,013 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Northern Maine Community College
Southern Maine Community College came in at #3 on this year's best-value Nursing ranking in Maine. 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. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,661 ten years after entry. Set against $13,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Southern Maine Community College
Central Maine Community College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Nursing ranking in Maine. 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. Median earnings reach $42,448 ten years out. Set against $14,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. More on Central Maine Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Maine At Presque Isle earned it the #5 place in Maine. University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public school based in Presque Isle, ME. 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. Median earnings reach $40,956 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,434 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%. Get the full University Of Maine At Presque Isle report
University Of Maine At Fort Kent offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Fort Kent, ME, University Of Maine At Fort Kent is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $51,077. Set against $30,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 98% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent report
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #7 among the best-value Nursing schools in Maine. University Of Maine At Augusta is a public school based in Augusta, ME. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on University Of Maine At Augusta
University Of Southern Maine ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Based in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants. Read the full report on University Of Southern Maine
University Of Maine placed #9 among the best-value Nursing schools in Maine. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,653. That is a strong return on a $25,984 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Maine
Husson University placed #10 among the best-value Nursing schools in Maine. Based in Bangor, ME, Husson University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. The median Nursing program debt is $27,735. Graduates go on to earn a median of $45,025 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,735 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%. More on Husson University
Saint Josephs College Of Maine ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Set in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $44,420. Saint Josephs College Of Maine Nursing students take on a median of $26,625 in debt. Saint Josephs College Of Maine alumni report median earnings of $59,045 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Josephs College Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 84%. More on Saint Josephs College Of Maine
University Of New England offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Biddeford, ME. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $55,921. Set against $26,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New England has an acceptance rate of 92%. Read the full report on University Of New England
Beal College placed #13 among the best-value Nursing 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $35,639. That is a strong return on a $23,557 median debt. Read more about Beal College
Northeast Technical Institute offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Northeast Technical Institute
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
Capilo School Of Hair Design landed the #16 spot for value in Maine this year. More on Capilo School Of Hair Design
Washington County Community College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on Washington County Community College
Colby College
Colby College offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read more about Colby College
Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts report
York County Community College came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Get the full York County Community College report
Unity College
Unity College landed the #21 spot for value in Maine this year. More on Unity College
Maine Media College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Maine Media College report
The Landing School ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full The Landing School report
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Read the full report on Bowdoin College
College Of The Atlantic landed the #25 spot for value in Maine this year. See the full College Of The Atlantic profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Nursing Degree Schools in Maine
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
University Of Maine System Central Office offered strong value this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on University Of Maine System Central Office
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Maine Maritime Academy report
Maine College Of Art landed the #28 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Maine College Of Art
Empire Beauty School Maine ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best-value Nursing schools. Get the full Empire Beauty School Maine report
Thomas College
Thomas College landed the #30 spot for value in Maine this year. Get the full Thomas College report
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook placed #31 among the best-value Nursing schools in Maine. Read the full report on Spa Tech Institute Westbrook
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #32 among the best-value Nursing schools in Maine. Read the full report on Kennebec Valley Community College
Bates College
Bates College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Get the full Bates College report
University Of Maine At Farmington landed the #34 spot for value in Maine this year. Read more about University Of Maine At Farmington
More Nursing Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Nursing Degree Search (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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 · 13 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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