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As the 42ndmost populated state in America, Maine is home to a number of large and small private colleges. Top rated private universities in Maine include University of New England, Saint Josephs College, Bowdoin College, College of the Atlantic, Colby College, Maine College of Art, Unity College, and Thomas College. Private schools in Maine are situated in a variety of cities and towns from Brunswick and Waterville to Bar Harbor and Lewiston. Both the enrollment and degree offerings are quite diverse which provides ample opportunity for students to find a niche that works well for them.

2024 Best Private Colleges in Maine

Bowdoin College is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and helps students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Brunswick, Maine, which is a predominantly rural area. Bowdoin College has a yearly student enrollment of nearly a thousand.

A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Social Sciences
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • English Language And Literature
  • History

To be considered for admissions, you may be required to fill out an application, provide letters of recommendations, and submit high school records and test scores, which are then evaluated by admissions staff. The most common standardized test scores among students admitted to this school are within the range of 30 to 33 on the ACT, or 2000 to 2250 on the SAT exam. Only 16% of applicants are accepted to the school due to the huge number of applicants and the intense competition for the limited enrollment spaces available. More information regarding admissions can be found at bowdoin.edu.

Tuition is approximately $47,000 annually, though it may vary based on different types of circumstances. Students should visit the school's price of attendance calculator to see the personalize cost of attendance. On-campus housing is available for students, which costs approximately $6,000 annually. Financial aid may be provided to students that meet the necessary requirements.

The mascot for Bowdoin College is the "Polar Bears", and they participate in intercollegiate athletics through the oversight and organization of the NCAA. Athletic programs that are available include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division III)

Contact information, academics information, programs offered, and more can be viewed on school's website at http://www.bowdoin.edu/.

Enrollment

1,828

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Bates College is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and helps students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Lewiston, Maine, which is a predominantly urban area. Bates College has a yearly student enrollment of over 1,700.

Here is a list of some of the popular programs Bates College offers:

  • Psychology
  • Social Sciences
  • English Language And Literature
  • History

Students applying for admission are most often required to submit an application, transcripts, records, test scores and any requested personal statements, which will then be reviewed by the school. Admission to this school is considered highly competitive, with only 30 percent of applicants being admitted each year. More information regarding admissions can be found here.

The cost of undergraduate tuition is approximately $47,000, but may change from year to year. Students are encouraged to visit the school's net price calculator to better understand their personal tuition costs. Financial aid may be offered to students that meet the required requirements in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

The Bates College Bobcats participate in a number of athletic programs, as part of the NCAA organization. Athletic programs available may include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Track & Field (NCAA Division III)
  • Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)

Contact information, admission forms, programs, and much more can be viewed on school's website at http://www.bates.edu/.

Enrollment

1,832

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

Colby College is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and helps students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Waterville, ME, which is a predominantly rural area. Enrollment at Colby College exceeds a thousand yearly.

Areas of study available at Colby College include:

  • Social Sciences
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Interdisciplinary Studies
  • History
  • English Language And Literature
  • Psychology

The admissions process begins with the submission of an application, student records, and test scores, which are then reviewed by admissions officials. Most students accepted to this school have an SAT score within the range of 1860 - 2130, or an ACT score between 28 - 32. Only 29 percent of applicants are admitted to the school due to the huge number of applicants and the intense competition for the limited enrollment spaces available. More information regarding admissions can be found here.

Undergraduate tuition is approximately $47,000 for the year, though it may change based on any number of circumstances. Students should check the school's tuition calculator to see the personalize cost of attendance. Student housing is available on-campus for students. The yearly cost of housing is estimated to be $6,300. Financial aid may be provided to students that meet the necessary requirements by way of scholarships, grants, and loans.

The Colby College "White Mules" have a number of intercollegiate athletic programs through participation in the NCAA. Available athletic programs offered may include the following:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)

Students should visit the Colby College website to get a complete list of academic programs offered, student services, and more that is available at this school.

Enrollment

2,000

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

UNE is a nonprofit private university that has a large selection of majors available for students to choose from. The school is located in Biddeford, Maine, in a predominantly urban area. Enrollment at UNE is nearly 5,200 annually. Areas of study available at UNE include but are not limited to:

  • Education
  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Public Administration And Social Services
The admissions process begins with the submission of an application, student records, and test scores, which are then reviewed by admissions officials. A SAT or ACT exam may be required prior to applying, with scores between 960 to 1160 on the SAT and between 21 to 26 for the ACT exam is typical among students accepted to University of New England. UNE has an admissions rate of 82% of which only 21% chose to attend.  For additional information about admissions, simply complete the form on this page or call UNE to learn more. The cost of tuition is nearly $34,000, but may change from year to year. Students are encouraged to use the school's price of attendance calculator to better estimate their personal tuition costs. Some students at University of New England may be eligible for financial aid, which is generally offered as scholarships, grants, and loans. The University of New England Nor'Easters participate in a number of athletic programs, within the NCAA organization. Available athletic programs offered may include but not limited to:
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)
  • Golf (NCAA Division III)
  • Ice Hockey (NCAA Division III)

Enrollment

8,010

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Saint Joseph's College of Maine provides a variety of program options for students to guide them in their growth and development. The school is located in Standish, ME and operated as a private institution. The school maintains a Roman Catholic affiliation, which is evident in the role it plays in program curriculums and daily life at the school. Approximately two thousand students are enrolled per year at Saint Joseph's College of Maine.

Areas of study offered at Saint Joseph's College of Maine include but are not limited to:

  • Health And Clinical Professions
  • Education
  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Liberal Arts And Sciences

Students applying for admission are most often asked to submit an application, transcripts, records, standardized test scores and any requested application essays, which will then be reviewed by the admissions staff. A SAT or ACT exam may be required prior to applying, with scores between 1280 to 1580 on the SAT and between 17 to 26 on the ACT is typical among students accepted to Saint Joseph's College of Maine. Roughly 90% of all students that applied were accepted at this school, with 22% of those accepted choosing to attend.

Tuition is approximately $32,000 for the year, though it may vary based on any number of circumstances. Students may visit the school's net price calculator to determine cost. This school may help with costs by offering financial aid for students who qualify in the form of grants and loans.

Athletic programs are available at Saint Joseph's College of Maine through the NCAA, allowing students to compete in intercollegiate sports. Sports available:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)
  • Golf (NCAA Division III)

Contact information, financial aid information, programs, and more may be accessed on school's website at http://www.sjcme.edu.

Enrollment

2,106

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

Unity College, a nonprofit private institution, offers a large number of program options, allowing students to choose which major is right for them. Located in Unity, Maine, the school resides in a rural setting for students to study in. The high teacher to student ratio and access to faculty and teachers are due primarily to the small student body, nearly 600 students, maintained by Unity College. A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Recreation And Fitness Studies
  • Agriculture Operations
Students applying for admission are most often required to submit an application, transcripts, records, standardized test scores and any requested application essays, which will then be reviewed by admissions staff. Unity College accepts about 60 percent of students applying yearly. Of those admitted, nearly 28 percent of students registered for enrollment. More information regarding admissions can be found at unity.edu. The cost of undergraduate tuition is approximately $26,000 per year. Tuition prices may change for any number of reasons, and therefore students should visit the school's tuition calculator to identify their cost of attendance. The cost of on-campus housing is approximately $5,500 per year. Students attending Unity College may be eligible for aid which is typically loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs.

Enrollment

814

Student to Faculty Ratio

15:1

College of the Atlantic is a liberal arts college that offers an undergraduate education and assists students in developing important skills useful in pursuit of graduate education or employment. A liberal arts curriculum exposes students to a variety of topics and subjects. The school is located in Bar Harbor, Maine, which is a predominantly rural area. The lower student/teacher ratio and access to faculty is due primarily to the limited enrollment, about 400 students, maintained by College of the Atlantic. The school offers a degree program in Interdisciplinary Studies. The admissions process will begin with the submission of an application, student records, and standardized test scores, which are then reviewed by admissions staff. Approximately 60 percent of all applicant were admitted at this school, with 32 percent of those admitted choosing to attend. More information on admissions can be found here. The cost of tuition is around $40,000, but may change from year to year. Students are encouraged to use the school's tuition calculator to better understand their personal tuition costs. Housing is available for students, and generally costs about $6,200 for the year. Some students at this school may qualify for financial aid, which is typically provided in the form of loans, grants, scholarships and work study programs. Contact information, academics information, areas of study, and much more may be viewed on school's website at http://www.coa.edu.

Enrollment

337

Student to Faculty Ratio

9:1

Thomas College is a nonprofit private school that has many programs available for students to choose from. The school is located in Waterville, Maine, in a predominantly rural area. Approximately 980 students are enrolled yearly at Thomas College.

A list of some of the more popular programs offered are:

  • Business And Marketing Studies
  • Security And Protective Services
  • Education
  • Psychology

Students applying for admission are generally asked to submit an application, transcripts, records, test scores and any requested letters of recommendations, which will then be reviewed by admissions staff. Students may take either the ACT or SAT exam scores to be considered for admissions to this school. A score between 1060 to 1400 on the SAT, or 16 to 19 for the ACT is usually submitted among admitted students. 93% of students that apply are admitted to this school, of which 26 percent choose to enroll. More information on admissions can be found at thomas.edu.

Undergraduate tuition is approximately $25,000 for the year, though it may change based on any number of circumstances. Students should check the school's tuition calculator to find what your personalized cost of attendance would be. Housing may be available for those that would like to live on-campus for around a cost of $5,100 each year. This school may offer financial aid for students who are eligible in the form of scholarships, grants, and loans.

The Thomas College Terriers participate in several intercollegiate athletic programs, as part of the NCAA organization. Athletic programs offered may include:

  • Baseball (NCAA Division III)
  • Basketball (NCAA Division III)
  • Field Hockey (NCAA Division III)
  • Lacrosse (NCAA Division III)
  • Soccer (NCAA Division III)

Students who wish to see more about this school may take a look at their website at http://www.thomas.edu.

Enrollment

1,767

Student to Faculty Ratio

23:1

How Maine Private Colleges are Different

Private colleges operate by leveraging donations, tuition, grants, and their internal operations. State universities and community colleges, on the other hand, accept public funds to operate. Unique aspects of public colleges include a smaller class size coupled with lower student to teacher ratios. The combination of both features provides greater access to teaching professors and increased classroom collaboration from course to course. Finding the perfect private college in Maine starts with determining your educational aspirations and career goals so take the time to really understand what is important to you before applying to schools.

Small to Medium Sized 4-Year Universities

The 4-year schools listed below have a small to medium sized student body and may offer a wide range of associate and bachelor's degrees. Get more information about each school by clicking the links below.

4-Year Colleges with a Special Focus on an Area of Study

The schools below are grouped by their special area of focus. To learn about admissions, tuition & fees, programs offered, and more click on the school names below.

Schools of Art, Music, and Design

Notes: Tuition & fee amounts are for both Maine in-state residents and out of state students, unless noted otherwise. The tuition information displayed is an estimate, which we calculated based on historical data and should be solely used for informational purposes only. Please contact the respective school for information about the current school year.

Source: IPEDS Survey 2012-2020: Data obtained from the US Dept. of Education's Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Data may vary depending on school and academic year.

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