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2026 Best Trade Schools in Maine
Looking for the best Trade degree programs in Maine? Our ranking highlights 34 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed 31 schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Trade Degree Schools in Maine
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Leading the list is University Of Maine At Presque Isle, our #1 Trade school in Maine. Located in Presque Isle, ME, University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a public institution. University Of Maine At Presque Isle graduates 24% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Typical Trade student debt is $23,434. Get the full University Of Maine At Presque Isle report
The strong Trade programs at Maine Maritime Academy earned it the #2 place in Maine. Located in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Read the full report on Maine Maritime Academy
You'll be in good company at Saint Josephs College Of Maine, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. About 66% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,420. The median Trade program debt is $26,625. Get the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine report
You'll be in good company at University Of Maine, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in Orono, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical Trade student debt is $25,984. See the full University Of Maine profile
You'll be in good company at Husson University, which ranked #5 this year. Husson University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bangor, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 59%. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,304. Graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans. See the full Husson University profile
University Of Maine At Augusta came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Based in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. About 26% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine At Augusta Trade students take on a median of $29,313 in debt. See the full University Of Maine At Augusta profile
Beal College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Bangor, ME, Beal College is a private for-profit institution. The median Trade program debt is $23,557. Get the full Beal College report
Eastern Maine Community College placed #8 among Trade schools in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Eastern Maine Community College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. The median Trade program debt is $17,741. More on Eastern Maine Community College
York County Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Based in Wells, ME, York County 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. Typical Trade student debt is $12,757. Get the full York County Community College report
University Of New England did well this year, earning the #10 position. Based in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $26,838. See the full University Of New England profile
Southern Maine Community College landed the #11 spot in Maine this year. Set in South Portland, ME, Southern Maine Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,156, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $13,869 in student loans. See the full Southern Maine Community College profile
Northern Maine Community College placed #12 among Trade schools in Maine. Set in Presque Isle, ME, Northern Maine Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Graduates carry a median of $16,013 in student loans. Read more about Northern Maine Community College
University Of Southern Maine landed the #13 spot in Maine this year. Set in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. Roughly 40% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,090, while out-of-state students pay about $29,940. University Of Southern Maine Trade students take on a median of $23,593 in debt. More on University Of Southern Maine
Central Maine Community College came in at #14 in this year's ranking. Located in Auburn, ME, Central Maine Community College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. The median Trade program debt is $14,700. Get the full Central Maine Community College report
Washington County Community College placed #15 among Trade schools in Maine. Read more about Washington County Community College
Unity College
Unity College landed the #16 spot in Maine this year. Read more about Unity College
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
Maine Media College did well this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Maine Media College report
Bates College
Bates College came in at #19 in this year's ranking. Read more about Bates College
Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts landed the #20 spot in Maine this year. Read the full report on Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts
Northeast Technical Institute landed the #21 spot in Maine this year. See the full Northeast Technical Institute profile
Maine College Of Art landed the #22 spot in Maine this year. Get the full Maine College Of Art report
Empire Beauty School Maine came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read more about Empire Beauty School Maine
College Of The Atlantic came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Get the full College Of The Atlantic report
Thomas College
Thomas College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Thomas College
Rest of the Top 15% Best Trade Degree Schools in Maine
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
The Landing School did well this year, earning the #26 position. Read the full report on The Landing School
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Get the full Bowdoin College report
Colby College
Colby College did well this year, earning the #28 position. See the full Colby College profile
Kennebec Valley Community College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Trade schools. Read more about Kennebec Valley Community College
University Of Maine System Central Office landed the #30 spot in Maine this year. Read more about University Of Maine System Central Office
University Of Maine At Farmington placed #31 among Trade schools in Maine. Read more about University Of Maine At Farmington
University Of Maine At Fort Kent placed #32 among Trade schools in Maine. Get the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent report
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook landed the #33 spot in Maine this year. Read more about Spa Tech Institute Westbrook
Capilo School Of Hair Design came in at #34 in this year's ranking. More on Capilo School Of Hair Design
More Trade Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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