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Mainean
Encyclopedia
Education in Maine

Colleges and universities

A reference overview of the public, private, community, liberal arts, professional, and maritime institutions that have shaped higher education in Maine.

Tree-lined college campus with traditional academic buildings
Overview

A varied higher-education landscape

Maine’s higher-education landscape includes universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, specialized schools, and maritime education. Institutions differ in mission, program length, governance, academic focus, and the communities they serve.

The state’s public technical colleges were reorganized as community colleges in 2003. That change broadened their educational mission and established the Maine Community College System. Maine also includes campuses within the University of Maine System, independent colleges, and institutions focused on art, business, health, environmental studies, and maritime professions.

This page preserves the historical scope of the original reference while avoiding the use of old admissions figures, tuition amounts, rankings, and enrollment totals as current guidance. Those values change regularly and should be checked directly with each institution.

Institution directory

Explore by institutional type

This editorial grouping makes the archived list easier to scan. It is not a ranking and does not imply that every institution offers the same credentials or learning model.

How to research

Compare current information carefully

A useful college comparison starts with the credential and program, then checks current admissions, cost, support, and learning format through official sources.

1

Define the program

Identify the subject, credential level, preferred learning format, and any licensing requirements.

2

Check the institution

Confirm the school’s present name, program availability, accreditation, and institutional status.

3

Compare total cost

Review current tuition, required fees, books, housing, travel, and available aid—not an archived sticker price.

4

Verify outcomes

Consult current retention, completion, transfer, and career information in context with the program.

Students walking through an academic courtyard
Understanding the archive

Why the old comparison table is not presented as current data

The original table combined SAT and ACT ranges, enrollment, admission percentages, tuition, institutional categories, and rankings collected around 2010. Each field can change, and some institutions have since changed names, structures, offerings, or physical operations.

For that reason, Mainean Encyclopedia presents the institutional landscape and research context without republishing outdated numbers as if they describe 2026 conditions.

Historical notation

How the original table was coded

These abbreviations explain the archived comparison’s structure. They should not be read as current institutional classifications.

Program length

2 indicated a two-year institution; 4 indicated a four-year institution.

Governance

Pu meant public and Pr meant private.

Affiliation

S meant secular and R meant religious in the source notation.

Availability

NF meant that information was not found in the source research.

Testing

NR meant that a test or item was reported as not required.

Community colleges

MCC was used as an abbreviation for Maine Community College.

FAQ

Using this college reference

Answers to common questions about the page’s scope, historical material, and responsible use.

Is this a current admissions directory?

No. It is an encyclopedia overview based partly on an archived comparison. Confirm present admissions requirements, deadlines, programs, and policies with the institution.

Why are historical tuition and enrollment figures omitted?

The source figures were assembled around 2010. Publishing them without clear context could mislead readers researching present-day costs or enrollment.

Does inclusion indicate a recommendation or ranking?

No. Inclusion reflects the scope of the archived Maine higher-education list. Mainean Encyclopedia does not rank or endorse institutions on this page.

What should I compare beyond tuition?

Consider the total cost of attendance, program requirements, aid, learning format, location needs, student support, transfer arrangements, accreditation, and completion information.

Are all historical institution names still current?

Not necessarily. Institutional names, affiliations, campuses, and operating models can change. The directory retains source links for research, but readers should verify current status.

Where can I explore related education topics?

Use the Society and Education sections, alphabetical index, maps, glossary, and reference tools linked throughout Mainean Encyclopedia.

Continue exploring

Related reference routes

Place higher education in the broader context of Maine society, geography, and the encyclopedia’s research tools.

Education and society

SocietyEducationVital Statistics and Population

Research tools

GlossaryReference DeskSearch TermsHelp

Geographic context

Browse with MapsCities and TownsCounties
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