University of New England
Biddeford, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 91.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 46/100 · Below Average Value
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 -- the highest in this group of low-ROI schools -- against median 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 -- better than most schools at this ROI tier. 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at University of New England is $44,210/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $38,107/year, or roughly $152,428 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $31,371/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $41,991/year.
The median graduate leaves with $25,250 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $268 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $55,921 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.61 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
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 -- among the highest low-income net prices in this analysis. 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
Nursing is UNE's highest-earning and most defensible program at 121 graduates per year. 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 of 0.451 (ROI grade C+) with $27,000 median debt is functional at typical school pricing but 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. At UNE's $38,107 average net price, business students are paying premium pricing for earnings that match or fall below what University of Southern Maine or University of Maine offer at public school costs.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.4% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 79.0% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 81.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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. Students should note that UNE's $38,107 average net price is high for a school with this admission profile -- the selectivity filter is primarily academic and mission fit, not demonstrated academic excellence.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UNE (ROI 46, earn6yr $41,200) carries a high net price relative to its outcomes. Bates College is in the peer set but is a far more selective and higher-earning school (the Scorecard peer matching algorithm is imperfect here). Delaware Valley University is a more comparable agricultural and health sciences school. College of the Atlantic (small Maine environmental focus) is in the peer set. UNE's 68.4% completion rate is a genuine strength relative to peers -- the school finishes students reliably. The financial gap is the net price: $38,107 average against $41,200 median 6-year earnings creates a structural affordability problem that the completion rate cannot offset.
| 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 is not justified by their program-level outcomes.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The financial case for University of New England is mixed. At $38,107 per year net cost, graduates earn a median of $55,921 ten years after entry - a payback period of 14 years. That's below the average return for four-year institutions, and prospective students should carefully consider whether the investment aligns with their financial goals.
Key strengths include a 68.3% graduation rate. However, the data also shows weak earnings relative to cost and a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,250 against $55,921 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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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.