Central Maine Community College vs University of Maine
A side-by-side look at cost, graduate earnings, debt and return on investment. The better figure in each row is highlighted.
| Central Maine Community College Auburn, ME | University of Maine Orono, ME | |
|---|---|---|
| ROI verdict | Poor return | Break-even |
| 10-year ROI | -325% | +38% |
| 10-year net gain | $-59,483 | $30,330 |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $40,884 | $55,948 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $41,571 | $38,924 |
| Average net price | $6,975 | $17,510 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $25,000 |
| Break-even | — | 7.2 yrs |
| Graduation rate | — | 55% |
| Admission rate | — | 97% |
Central Maine Community College
Poor return
$-59,483 over 10 years
On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.
University of Maine
Break-even
+$30,330 over 10 years
The payoff is roughly break-even — the degree recovers its cost, but slowly.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.