Head-to-head comparison
University of Maine vs Southern Maine Community 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 South Portland, ME
Southern Maine Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,086
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,661
- Payback
- No payback
University of Maine has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,040 in 239 years versus not at all at Southern Maine Community College, on median earnings of $48,653 vs $41,661 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Maine | Southern Maine Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,510 | $11,086 |
| Total net cost | $70,040 | $22,172 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $48,653 | $41,661 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $10,331 |
| Payback | 239 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | -$64,180 | -$156,152 |
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 Southern Maine Community College?
Southern Maine Community College, at $11,086 a year after aid versus $17,510 — a gap of $6,424 a year, or $47,868 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 Southern Maine Community College graduates earn more?
University of Maine graduates report a median $48,653 ten years after entry, $6,992 more than the $41,661 at Southern Maine Community College. 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 Southern Maine Community College?
Southern Maine Community College: its completers carry a median $10,331 in federal loans versus $25,000 at University of Maine, a difference of $14,669. 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?
55% of students finish at University of Maine, against 28% at Southern Maine Community College. 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.