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 - 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 first number you'll see is the sticker price: $44,210/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. 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.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,250 in federal loans, which works out to about $268 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $55,921 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.61, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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
Trends Over Time
How University of New England’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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. 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 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 - slower than most four-year schools. 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 against $55,921 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.