Head-to-head comparison
University of Maine at Farmington vs Beal University: which has better ROI?
Option A Farmington, ME
University of Maine at Farmington
- Net price / year
- $16,857
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,433
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bangor, ME
Beal University
- Net price / year
- $40,109
- Earnings, 10 years
- $35,639
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but University of Maine at Farmington comes closer — median earnings $44,433 against a $67,428 total, vs $35,639 at Beal University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine at Farmington | Beal University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $16,857 | $40,109 |
| Total net cost | $67,428 | $80,218 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,433 | $35,639 |
| Median debt | $24,499 | $19,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$145,968 | -$334,638 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Maine at Farmington or Beal University?
University of Maine at Farmington, at $16,857 a year after aid versus $40,109 — a gap of $23,252 a year, or $12,790 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do University of Maine at Farmington or Beal University graduates earn more?
University of Maine at Farmington graduates report a median $44,433 ten years after entry, $8,794 more than the $35,639 at Beal University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, University of Maine at Farmington or Beal University?
Beal University: its completers carry a median $19,500 in federal loans versus $24,499 at University of Maine at Farmington, a difference of $4,999. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
52% of students finish at University of Maine at Farmington, against 36% at Beal University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.