2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Maine
[Anthropology](/majors/social-sciences/anthropology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for anthropology students.
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2026 Best Value Anthropology Schools in Maine
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in anthropology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Anthropology Schools
For return on investment in anthropology, no school beat University Of Maine this year. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, while out-of-state students pay about $36,756. Typical student debt for anthropology graduates is $27,000. Anthropology graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $23,341 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Students looking for strong value in anthropology will find it at Bowdoin College, which ranked #2. Set in the town of Brunswick, Bowdoin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,832. Students borrow a median of $20,658 to complete the anthropology program here. Anthropology graduates of Bowdoin College earn a median of $58,938 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,658 median debt. Roughly 7% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Colby College one of the best values for anthropology. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,600. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete the anthropology program here. Early-career anthropology graduates make about $46,772. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 7%.
More Anthropology Rankings
View All Anthropology Rankings >
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 · 6 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.
