University of New England
Biddeford, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 91.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 46/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of New England in Biddeford, Maine scores ROI 46 (Below Average Value) with 2,135 undergraduates at a private school on the Maine coast. The school's financial profile has a significant tension: a $38,107 average net price, against average 6-year earnings of only $41,200. That gap produces a 14-year payback period. The earnings premium sub-score of 26 reflects how modestly UNE graduates earn relative to the investment. Completion at 68.4% is the school's strongest dimension. Registered Nursing (121 graduates, B+ ROI grade) is the clear earnings anchor; the school's health sciences concentration in dental services (35 grads) and natural resources (31 grads) fills out the program mix. Most programs deliver D-grade or lower ROI, dragged down by high net price against modest earnings.
University of New England
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,210/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,210/yr |
| Average net price | $38,107/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $152,428 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $55,921 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $41,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $268 |
| Estimated payback period | 14 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,135 |
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: $44,210/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $38,107/year, or roughly $152,428 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 $31,371/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $41,991/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,250, which works out to about $268 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($41,200) and comes to 0.61, 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 | $31,371 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $32,046 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $32,348 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $36,237 |
| $110,001+ | $41,991 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $31,371 per year. Over four years that is roughly $125,484. This school charges low-income families more than $20,000 per year, which significantly limits genuine access for Pell recipients. The 11.8% Pell rate confirms that few low-income students are enrolling here, likely because the financial barrier is too high.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $32,046 - slightly above the lowest tier. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $32,348, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket climbs to $36,237. Cost stays nearly flat through the entire middle range - UNE's aid is income-insensitive in the $30k-$110k band, charging almost all middle-income families roughly the same amount. Middle-income families see virtually no benefit from lower income in this bracket.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $41,991 per year. Over four years that is roughly $167,964. Against median 10-year earnings of $55,921, this is a poor financial return for virtually any non-nursing, non-dental major. High-income families choosing UNE for non-health programs are paying a significant premium over what the earnings data can justify.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of New England with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $84,986 | B+ |
| Biology | $70,283 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $69,190 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $57,272 | D |
| Dental Support Services | $74,504 | C+ |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $48,592 | D |
| Natural Resources Conservation | $48,309 | D |
| Psychology | $55,085 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $61,240 | C+ |
| Genetics | $42,941 | D |
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
Median 1-year earnings of $77,895 and 4-year earnings of $84,986 reflect Maine's persistent nursing shortage and the Boston/Portland healthcare corridor. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.347 (ROI grade B+) with $27,000 median debt is acceptable, though the $38,107 average net price means nursing students pay considerably more than the program-level median debt suggests. Maine's nurse-to-population ratio creates consistent RN demand, particularly in rural and coastal areas.
Dental Support Services
Dental Support Services (dental hygiene) produces 35 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $59,851 and 4-year earnings of $74,504. The debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.451 (ROI grade C+) with $27,000 median debt, strained at UNE's $38,107 net price. Dental hygiene graduates enter a licensed profession with consistent employer demand - dental offices across New England require hygienists - but the $38,107 annual net price inflates the true cost-to-earnings ratio beyond what the program-level D2E of 0.451 captures.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration produces 27 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $55,830 and 4-year earnings of $61,240. The 0.482 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $26,920 median debt is borderline.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.8% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.4% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of New England’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
| Acceptance rate | 91.6% |
| Enrollment | 2,135 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 11.8% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,669 |
This school does not report admissions selectivity data. The 91.6% admission rate signals broad accessibility.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of New England (this school) | 46 | $38,107 | $55,921 |
| Bates College | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| Bob Jones University | 47 | $16,641 | $44,354 |
| Delaware Valley University | 46 | $28,278 | $55,838 |
| Central Methodist University-College of Graduate and Extended Studies | 43 | $14,601 | $48,991 |
| College of the Atlantic | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
Who Thrives Here
UNE fits students who specifically want Maine coastal health sciences - nursing, dental hygiene, or biology with pre-professional goals - and are prepared to pay private school pricing. The school does not report SAT/ACT bands. With only 11.8% Pell recipients, UNE serves primarily non-Pell families who can absorb the $38,107 net price. Completion at 68.4% is a relative strength. Students entering natural resources, ecology, or general health sciences face 4-year debt ratios above 0.85 - the high sticker price deserves a close look against their program-level outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for University of New England is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $38,107 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $55,921 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 14 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 68.3% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $41,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of New England: Common Questions
Is University of New England worth it?
In our view, the money case is mixed and worth a hard look before you commit. University of New England scores 46/100 on our ROI scale. At $38,107 a year after aid the typical graduate earns $55,921 ten years after entry, so it takes about 14 years to earn the cost back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does University of New England 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 $38,107 a year, or roughly $152,428 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 New England graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $55,921 ten years after enrolling, roughly $14,121 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of New England?
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 14 years for University of New England. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of New England graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,250, against average earnings of $41,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of New England?
The six-year graduation rate is 68.3%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.