2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Maine
[Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities](/majors/liberal-arts-sciences-humanities/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for liberal arts / sciences & humanities students.
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2026 Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools in Maine
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the liberal arts / sciences & humanities degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities Schools
For return on investment in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, no school beat York County Community College this year. Located in the suburb of Wells, York County Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,036 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,757 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from York County Community College generally make around $35,803. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kennebec Valley Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #2 spot this year. Kennebec Valley Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Kennebec Valley Community College generally make around $32,448. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
Central Maine Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Central Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,140, while out-of-state students pay about $7,020. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $15,575. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $31,646. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a great value for students pursuing a degree in liberal arts / sciences & humanities, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of Maine At Presque Isle is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Presque Isle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,402, with out-of-state students paying around $14,862. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $24,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Maine At Presque Isle generally make around $38,395. That is a strong return on a $24,750 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Eastern Maine Community College one of the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the city of Bangor, Eastern Maine Community College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,156, while out-of-state students pay about $7,036. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $12,402 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Eastern Maine Community College generally make around $52,263. Set against $12,402 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Maine At Augusta landed the #6 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Set in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $23,695. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $35,428. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southern Maine Community College landed the #7 spot for liberal arts / sciences & humanities value this year. Located in the city of South Portland, Southern Maine Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $4,156 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,036. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from Southern Maine Community College generally make around $27,742. That is a strong return on a $10,250 median debt.
University Of Southern Maine ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Southern Maine is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,090, compared with $29,940 for out-of-state students. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $29,716. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Maine At Farmington placed #9 among the best values for liberal arts / sciences & humanities. Located in the rural area of Farmington, University Of Maine At Farmington is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,308, while out-of-state students pay about $23,878. Students borrow a median of $25,703 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of University Of Maine At Farmington earn a median of $35,414 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maine At Farmington admits about 97% of applicants.
University Of Maine came in at #10 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates is $21,166. Soon after graduation, liberal arts / sciences & humanities degree recipients from University Of Maine generally make around $34,404. That is a strong return on a $21,166 median debt. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants.
Husson University came in at #11 for value in liberal arts / sciences & humanities this year. Husson University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bangor. Students from in state pay about $23,304 in tuition and fees. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Liberal Arts / Sciences & Humanities graduates of Husson University earn a median of $36,809 early in their careers. Set against $31,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Husson University admits about 81% of applicants.
College Of The Atlantic ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value liberal arts / sciences & humanities schools. College Of The Atlantic is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Bar Harbor. Students from in state pay about $47,997 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,475 to complete the liberal arts / sciences & humanities program here. Early-career liberal arts / sciences & humanities graduates make about $23,003. That is a strong return on a $25,475 median debt. College Of The Atlantic admits about 70% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 Major Best Value · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
