2026 Best Value Healthcare Schools in Maine
Looking for the best-value Healthcare degree programs in Maine? Our ranking highlights 34 colleges 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 help you make your decision, Healthcare Degree Search analyzed 12 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 Healthcare Degree Schools in Maine
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Eastern Maine Community College earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Eastern Maine Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Eastern Maine Community College Healthcare students take on a median of $17,741 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $41,704. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read the full report on Eastern Maine Community College
Out of the 12 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, Northern Maine Community College landed the #2 spot. Northern Maine Community College is a public school based in Presque Isle, ME. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,013 to complete their Healthcare program here. Median earnings reach $43,348 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full Northern Maine Community College report
Out of the 12 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, Southern Maine Community College landed the #3 spot. Set in South Portland, ME, Southern Maine Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Southern Maine Community College Healthcare students take on a median of $13,869 in debt. Median earnings reach $41,661 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $13,869 median debt. Read more about Southern Maine Community College
Out of the 12 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, Central Maine Community College landed the #4 spot. This public school is set in Auburn, ME. Students from in state pay about $4,140 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. The median Healthcare program debt is $14,700. Central Maine Community College alumni report median earnings of $42,448 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Central Maine Community College profile
Out of the 12 schools in Maine in this year's value ranking, University Of Maine At Presque Isle landed the #5 spot. Set in Presque Isle, ME, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Typical Healthcare student debt is $23,434. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $40,956. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%. More on University Of Maine At Presque Isle
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #6 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. Based in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine At Augusta Healthcare students take on a median of $29,313 in debt. Median earnings reach $40,342 ten years out. Set against $29,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full University Of Maine At Augusta report
University Of Maine placed #7 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. Set in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. University Of Maine Healthcare students take on a median of $25,984 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $48,653. Set against $25,984 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. See the full University Of Maine profile
University Of Southern Maine ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. This public school is set in Portland, ME. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Typical Healthcare student debt is $23,593. Graduates go on to earn a median of $49,958 ten years after entry. Set against $23,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%. Get the full University Of Southern Maine report
Husson University offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Bangor, ME. In-state tuition and fees average $23,304. Graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans. 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. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Husson University
Saint Josephs College Of Maine placed #10 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. This private not-for-profit school is set in Standish, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,420. Students borrow a median of $26,625 to complete their Healthcare program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,045. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine report
University Of New England came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. Set in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,210. University Of New England Healthcare students take on a median of $26,838 in debt. Median earnings reach $55,921 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,838 median debt. University Of New England has an acceptance rate of 92%. Get the full University Of New England report
Beal College landed the #12 spot for value in Maine this year. Set in Bangor, ME, Beal College is a private for-profit institution. Beal College Healthcare students take on a median of $23,557 in debt. Median earnings reach $35,639 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about Beal College
Capilo School Of Hair Design ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. More on Capilo School Of Hair Design
Empire Beauty School Maine landed the #14 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Empire Beauty School Maine
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Spa Tech Institute Westbrook report
Unity College
Unity College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Unity College
Maine College Of Art came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Maine College Of Art
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College placed #18 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. More on Bowdoin College
Thomas College
Thomas College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Thomas College profile
Northeast Technical Institute ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. Read the full report on Northeast Technical Institute
University Of Maine System Central Office offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on University Of Maine System Central Office
Washington County Community College landed the #22 spot for value in Maine this year. Read the full report on Washington County Community College
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions profile
The Landing School came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. See the full The Landing School profile
College Of The Atlantic ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. See the full College Of The Atlantic profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Healthcare Degree Schools in Maine
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts report
Bates College
Bates College offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. More on Bates College
York County Community College placed #28 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. Read more about York County Community College
Colby College
Colby College landed the #29 spot for value in Maine this year. Read more about Colby College
Maine Media College offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. Read the full report on Maine Media College
Kennebec Valley Community College placed #31 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. Get the full Kennebec Valley Community College report
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
University Of Maine At Fort Kent placed #33 among the best-value Healthcare schools in Maine. Get the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent report
University Of Maine At Farmington ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Healthcare schools. More on University Of Maine At Farmington
More Healthcare Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Healthcare 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 · 12 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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