Maine now boasts more than a dozen institutions offering an internet-based, degree-granting education, and enrollment in online programs continues to grow. Since 2012, the number of students taking online college courses in Maine grew by about 6%, and the trend keeps pointing upward. Public institutions comprise the majority of the Pine Tree State's online colleges, with two-year online Maine community colleges represented among them. Close to half of all schools claim nonprofit status. Whether you're seeking an associate, bachelor's, or master's degree, you can find a school in Maine that meets your needs.
The following guide will help you compare accredited online colleges in Maine, search for local scholarships, and consider the exciting possibilities of college life. You will gain an understanding of higher education trends in the nation's most easterly state and learn where online college courses in Maine may lead you.
Before we dive into our list of best online schools in Maine, let's start with the state of higher education and online education in Maine.
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Overview of Online Colleges in Maine
A Brief Overview of Higher Education in Maine
Perhaps best known for its flagship institution, the University of Maine, and the famous private liberal arts schools of Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby, the Pine Tree State offers its 72,000 college students an array of options. Schools like Maine Maritime Academy, the University of New England, the College of the Atlantic, and the University of Maine at Farmington saw their profiles rise nationally over the last decade. Additionally, the state's community colleges grew in number and added to their offerings.[dataviz-stats public="15" non-profit="15" for-profit="2"]Higher education costs about the same in Maine as it does around the U.S. The average tuition for students in the state's public two-year and four-year institutions sits near the national mean. The University of Maine's $30,282 tuition costs less than the University of Michigan and the University of Massachusetts; it costs more than the University of Mississippi and the University of Montana for out-of-state students. Mainers pay only about a third of that for tuition, at $10,902, but they still pay more than resident students in Iowa, Florida, and New Mexico.Mainers get help to cover those expenses through financial aid. The 15,779 undergraduate students who received monies from the Maine State Grant Program reported more than $18 million in aid, according to the National Association of State Student Grant and Aid Programs. Graduate students amassed another $2.1 million from programs like Educators for Maine and Doctors for Maine's Future.The state demonstrates its commitment to higher education with initiatives like Bring College to ME, a community college-based effort that offers programs in underserved corners of the state. Bond issues, too, like the one slated for November 2018, promote investment in the state's community colleges.
Higher Education in Maine
Featured Online Programs
The State of Online Higher Education in Maine
Online education continues to grow in Maine. Thirty-two colleges and universities call the Pine Tree State home, enrolling more than 70,000 students among them. Of these learners, more than 30% took at least one of their courses through the internet. About half of those attended class entirely online.The state's 16% rate of online enrollment bests the national average of 14%, according to the Distance Education State Almanac of 2017. More than 85% of students in Maine report taking a mix of classroom and internet-based classes. Of the students who enroll exclusively online, about 58% come from Maine, and the remainder register as nonresidents. The national average for resident students in online programs is 55%. Graduate students tend to study online at a higher rate than undergrads, with just less than half taking at least some of their classes in digital classrooms.[dataviz-nces online="13.4" undergrad="65.3" in-state="58"]
Tuition Breaks for Out-of-State Students
The governors of the six New England states founded the New England Board of Higher Education in 1955 to foster cooperation among the academic institutions of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. The organization continues its mission to this day. It aims to make college affordable to the region's students; to that end, it implemented the New England Regional Student Program (NERSP).NERSP allows students to study at a significant discount in fields not available at their home-state public universities. Not only does the program provide tuition relief for undergraduates, it also reduces redundancies in public education across the region, saving state's millions in operating costs.Degree candidates at accredited online colleges in Maine can also qualify for in-state tuition at schools in neighboring states, enjoying even more savings. Some universities even extend resident tuition rates to all students enrolled in web-based programs. Do your research and you can often find considerable savings in online education.
Best Online Colleges in Maine
Below, you will find our ranking of the best online four-year programs in Maine. Our profiles look at how schools approach online education and then list out their services for distance students and their fully online degrees. After reviewing the best online schools in Maine, explore our state resources, like a database of every college and university in Maine or our index of popular in-state scholarships.
Ranking Methodology
To determine the best online colleges in each state, we examined the factors most important to prospective students: Academic quality and reputation, online program strength, and cost and student aid. At the most basic level, we use the following formula to determine the best online colleges: Academic Quality + Online Offerings + Cost and Student Aid = Final Score. Of course, there's more to these calculations than meets the eye. Visit our methodology page to discover the data points that shape our formula and to learn more about the process we use to rank schools.
Most Affordable Online Colleges in Maine
Below, you'll find another list of the best online colleges in Maine, sorted by tuition rate.
Affordability Methodology
Our list of the most affordable online colleges is based on in-state yearly tuition, or annual tuition rates if a school does not differentiate between in-state and out-of-state students. Tuition rates are based on a full course load each semester or term. All colleges on the list offer at least one bachelor's degree completion program available entirely online.The online schools in ME with the lowest tuition are ranked highest, providing prospective students with a true list of the most affordable online colleges in their state.
College Graduate Outlook in Maine
Job Outlook for College Graduates in Maine
Unemployment in Maine hit record lows in the summer of 2018 at 2.9%, well below the national average of 4.0. The Pine Tree State enjoys a booming economy, and many employers across the state continue to struggle to fill positions. This demand drives up wages, making it an ideal time to graduate from online colleges in Maine. Students leave school to find more jobs than there are qualified applicants to fill them, creating a worker friendly environment.Some of the fastest-growing areas include healthcare and tech, which continue to expand all across the country. Positions like nurse practitioners, physical therapists, registered nurses, and physician's assistants currently thrive — all well-paying jobs that will likely continue to expand. Software developers currently find themselves in high demand, as well. Growth is also projected to occur in more traditional sectors, like business, the trades, and even service jobs.