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2026 Best Value Trade Schools in Maine
Looking for the best-value Trade degree programs in Maine? Our ranking highlights 34 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Trade College analyzed 14 schools to compile 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 Trade Degree Schools in Maine
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Eastern Maine Community College tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Trade degree 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. Median earnings reach $41,704 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,741 median debt. More on Eastern Maine Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at York County Community College earned it the #2 place in Maine. 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. York County Community College alumni report median earnings of $44,873 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full York County Community College report
Out of the 14 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. 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. Southern Maine Community College alumni report median earnings of $41,661 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $13,869 median debt. See the full Southern Maine Community College profile
You'll get strong value at Northern Maine Community College, which ranked #4 this year. 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. Northern Maine Community College alumni report median earnings of $43,348 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $16,013 median debt. Read more about Northern Maine Community College
A rank of #5 makes Central Maine Community College one of the best values in Maine. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $42,448. That is a strong return on a $14,700 median debt. Get the full Central Maine Community College report
University Of Maine At Presque Isle offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. Located 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 Trade student debt is $23,434. Graduates go on to earn a median of $40,956 ten years after entry. Set against $23,434 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 100% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full University Of Maine At Presque Isle report
University Of Maine At Augusta placed #7 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Based in Augusta, ME, University Of Maine At Augusta is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $40,342 ten years out. Set against $29,313 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. See the full University Of Maine At Augusta profile
University Of Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Orono, ME. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 97%. See the full University Of Maine profile
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Located in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. 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. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $89,964. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maine Maritime Academy has an acceptance rate of 54%. Read the full report on Maine Maritime Academy
University Of Southern Maine ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Set in Portland, ME, University Of Southern Maine is a public institution. 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. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted. More on University Of Southern Maine
Husson University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Husson University is a private not-for-profit school based in Bangor, ME. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,304. Graduates carry a median of $27,735 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $45,025. That is a strong return on a $27,735 median debt. About 81% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Husson University profile
Saint Josephs College Of Maine landed the #12 spot for value in Maine this year. Set in Standish, ME, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,420. The median Trade program debt is $26,625. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,045. Set against $26,625 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%. Get the full Saint Josephs College Of Maine report
University Of New England placed #13 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Based in Biddeford, ME, University Of New England is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,210 in tuition and fees. Typical Trade student debt is $26,838. University Of New England alumni report median earnings of $55,921 a decade after entry. Set against $26,838 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of New England has an acceptance rate of 92%. See the full University Of New England profile
Beal College placed #14 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Located in Bangor, ME, Beal College is a private for-profit institution. The median Trade program debt is $23,557. Beal College alumni report median earnings of $35,639 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $23,557 median debt. Get the full Beal College report
University Of Maine At Farmington offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about University Of Maine At Farmington
Capilo School Of Hair Design ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. More on Capilo School Of Hair Design
Kennebec Valley Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Kennebec Valley Community College
Maine College Of Art ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Get the full Maine College Of Art report
Spa Tech Institute Westbrook came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Spa Tech Institute Westbrook
Maine Media College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Maine Media College report
The Landing School ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Read the full report on The Landing School
Thomas College
Thomas College placed #22 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Read more about Thomas College
University Of Maine At Fort Kent ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Get the full University Of Maine At Fort Kent report
Unity College
Unity College placed #24 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Read more about Unity College
Northeast Technical Institute landed the #25 spot for value in Maine this year. See the full Northeast Technical Institute profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Trade Degree Schools in Maine
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts
Colby College
Colby College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full Colby College profile
Washington County Community College placed #28 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Read more about Washington County Community College
College Of The Atlantic landed the #29 spot for value in Maine this year. Get the full College Of The Atlantic report
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Trade schools. Get the full Bowdoin College report
Empire Beauty School Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #31 position. Read more about Empire Beauty School Maine
University Of Maine System Central Office offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. Read more about University Of Maine System Central Office
Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions landed the #33 spot for value in Maine this year. Read more about Central Maine Medical Center College Of Nursing And Health Professions
Bates College
Bates College placed #34 among the best-value Trade schools in Maine. Read more about Bates College
More Trade Value Rankings
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 14 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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