2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Maine
[Public Health](/majors/health-care-professions/public-health/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value public health schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Public Health Schools in Maine
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the public health degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Public Health Schools
Leading the list is University Of Southern Maine, our #1 best value for public health in Maine. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,090 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $29,940. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $23,593. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Southern Maine generally make around $62,476. Set against $23,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Southern Maine admits about 79% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in public health will find it at University Of Maine, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Students borrow a median of $25,984 to complete the public health program here. Soon after graduation, public health degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $47,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Saint Josephs College Of Maine one of the best values for public health. Set in the rural area of Standish, Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $44,420 in tuition and fees. Public Health graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Public Health graduates of Saint Josephs College Of Maine earn a median of $93,687 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. Saint Josephs College Of Maine admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of New England is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public health, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Biddeford, University Of New England is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,210. Typical student debt for public health graduates is $26,838. Early-career public health graduates make about $65,170. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
More Public Health Rankings
View All Public Health Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
