Head-to-head comparison
University of Maine vs Bates College: which has better ROI?
Option A Orono, ME
University of Maine
- Net price / year
- $17,510
- Earnings, 10 years
- $48,653
- Payback
- 239 yrs
Option B Lewiston, ME
Bates College
- Net price / year
- $29,351
- Earnings, 10 years
- $69,498
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Bates College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $117,404 in 5.6 years versus 239 years at University of Maine, on median earnings of $69,498 vs $48,653 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine | Bates College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,510 | $29,351 |
| Total net cost | $70,040 | $117,404 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,653 | $69,498 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $14,275 |
| Payback | 239 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$64,180 | $305,356 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Maine or Bates College?
University of Maine, at $17,510 a year after aid versus $29,351 — a gap of $11,841 a year, or $47,364 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 or Bates College graduates earn more?
Bates College graduates report a median $69,498 ten years after entry, $20,845 more than the $48,653 at University of Maine. 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 or Bates College?
Bates College: its completers carry a median $14,275 in federal loans versus $25,000 at University of Maine, a difference of $10,725. 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?
90% of students finish at Bates College, against 55% at University of Maine. 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.