University of Maine at Augusta
Augusta, Maine · Public
ROI Score: 15/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of Maine at Augusta posts a 15 ROI score and the Below Benchmark tier rating. Average earnings six years out are $26,000, climbing to a median $40,342 by year ten - producing a soft 12 percent earnings premium and a 34.4-year payback period. The 27 percent six-year completion rate is the dominant problem and reflects a heavily nontraditional, working-adult, online-leaning student population that struggles to graduate within standard timeframes. In-state tuition is $8,888 (out-of-state $22,178), with a net price of $10,924 and four-year cost of $43,696 - the affordability is real, but does not save the ROI math. Median debt of $22,734 produces a heavy 0.874 debt-to-earnings ratio. Strong nursing and modest STEM programs partially offset the picture.
How University of Maine at Augusta scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score15/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- 6-year graduation rate27.0% - The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our score, since a degree that is not finished rarely pays back.
- Payback period34.4 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of Maine at Augusta
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $8,888/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,178/yr |
| Average net price | $10,924/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $43,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,342 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $22,734 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $241 |
| Estimated payback period | 34.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 27.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,659 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $8,888/year ($22,178/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $10,924/year, or roughly $43,696 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $9,421/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $15,371/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $22,734, which works out to about $241 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($26,000) and comes to 0.87, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $9,421 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,175 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $11,228 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $14,037 |
| $110,001+ | $15,371 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Lowest-income families pay $9,421 net annually - with the $30,001-$48,000 bracket actually paying slightly less at $9,175, a mild inversion. Roughly $37,000 over four years for Pell-eligible students against $26K six-year earnings is still a meaningful debt risk that the school's overall data don't fully justify. The nursing pipeline is the clearest path to positive ROI for low-income students.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income brackets pay $9,175 ($30K-$48K), $11,228 ($48K-$75K), and $14,037 ($75K-$110K) - the lowest-paying tier is actually the second-lowest income band, an inverted structure.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families pay $15,371 net annually, or roughly $61K over four years. With median 10-year earnings of $40,342, the financial case is genuinely difficult unless the student lands in nursing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of Maine at Augusta with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences | $49,821 | C |
| Registered Nursing | $87,357 | B |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | $48,604 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $50,348 | C |
| Library Science | $32,301 | F |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $60,683 | C |
| Biology | $50,244 | - |
| Veterinary/Animal Health Technologies/Technicians | $39,275 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $42,812 | D |
| Accounting | $62,035 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Registered Nursing is by far UMA's strongest program, with 50 graduates posting first-year earnings of $82,845 climbing to $87,357 by year four. Median debt of $29,510 produces a 0.356 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B ROI grade - a remarkable contrast to the schoolwide picture. Career paths flow into Maine's small-but-stable hospital and long-term-care employer base, with statewide nursing demand keeping wages elevated.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Liberal Arts and Sciences is UMA's largest program at 107 graduates - a degree-completion-style pathway - with first-year earnings of $39,982 climbing to $49,821 at four years. Median debt of $27,841 produces a 0.696 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. Most graduates likely use this credential as an enabling step to graduate study, professional licensure, or workplace promotion rather than as a direct earnings driver.
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions
Mental Health Services graduates 43 students with $39,109 first-year and $48,604 four-year earnings against median debt of $33,250 - producing a heavy 0.85 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D ROI grade. Most strong career paths in this field require graduate study (LCSW, LMHC), so the bachelor's is best treated as a stepping-stone.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences graduates 17 students with $49,843 first-year and $60,683 four-year earnings. Median debt of $29,786 yields a 0.598 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade.
Accounting
Accounting graduates 11 students with $48,330 first-year and $62,035 four-year earnings. Median debt of $29,503 produces a 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C ROI grade. The path to CPA licensure adds value, with regional accounting firms in Augusta, Bangor, and Portland providing absorption capacity.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 53.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 58.3% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 43.5% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 48.1% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of Maine at Augusta’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Enrollment | 2,659 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.0% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,060 |
Admission rate is not reported in current Scorecard data for UMA, consistent with an open-enrollment policy where most applicants are accepted. SAT and ACT data are also unreported, suggesting test-optional or test-blind admissions. The 27 percent completion rate is what one would expect from a heavily nontraditional, part-time, working-adult student body. Prospective students should plan for completion realistically and budget for the time-to-degree implications of part-time enrollment.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine at Augusta (this school) | 15 | $10,924 | $40,342 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | 64 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| University of Maine at Farmington | 29 | $16,857 | $44,433 |
| University of Guam | 20 | $8,598 | $35,946 |
| Alcorn State University | 16 | $13,265 | $36,421 |
| Fort Valley State University | 9 | $10,338 | $36,666 |
Who Thrives Here
UMA fits adult learners and place-bound Mainers seeking flexible online and degree-completion programs, particularly in nursing, mental health services, and liberal arts. Enrollment is 2,659 undergraduates and Pell rate runs 33 percent. Strongest student outcomes are in nursing, where four-year earnings exceed $87K. Students should walk in with a clear major plan and a realistic completion strategy, since the school's structural retention rate is low.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, University of Maine at Augusta scores 15/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $10,924 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $40,342 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 34.4 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, its 27.0% graduation rate, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 58.3% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $22,734 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
University of Maine at Augusta: Common Questions
Is University of Maine at Augusta worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. University of Maine at Augusta scores 15/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $10,924 a year after aid against $40,342 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 34.4 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does University of Maine at Augusta cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $10,924 a year, or roughly $43,696 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of Maine at Augusta graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $40,342 ten years after enrolling, at or below the $41,800 median for high-school graduates (NCES, 2022). With little earnings gap to cover the cost, the financial return is hard to make.
How long does it take to pay off University of Maine at Augusta?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 34.4 years for University of Maine at Augusta. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of Maine at Augusta graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $22,734, against average earnings of $26,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.87. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at University of Maine at Augusta?
The six-year graduation rate is 27.0%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.