Best colleges for Registered Nursing in Maine
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of New England, University of Maine and Saint Joseph's College of Maine are the top bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Maine by graduate earnings. University of New England leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,895, College Scorecard. University of Southern Maine, University of Maine at Fort Kent and Husson University award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maine: 170, 152 and 128 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 15 Maine colleges offer Registered Nursing and award 1,195 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
Top 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of New England Biddeford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,895 | 81 | 68% | $34,673 | $27,000 |
| 2 | University of Maine Orono Public · Bachelor's degree | $77,737 | 98 | 55% | — | $27,000 |
| 3 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $74,114 | 98 | 66% | $31,045 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Husson University Bangor Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $73,758 | 128 | 59% | $18,839 | $29,000 |
| 5 | University of Southern Maine Portland Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,675 | 170 | 40% | — | $29,242 |
| 6 | University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,551 | 152 | 39% | — | $30,447 |
| 7 | University of Maine at Augusta Augusta Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,845 | 60 | 27% | — | $29,510 |
Top 6 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern Maine Community College Bangor Public · Associate degree | $69,158 | 55 | 32% | — | $32,818 |
| 2 | Kennebec Valley Community College Fairfield Public · Associate degree | $69,117 | 45 | 39% | — | $25,922 |
| 3 | Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston Private not-for-profit · Associate degree | $68,704 | 49 | 67% | $20,438 | $25,875 |
| 4 | Central Maine Community College Auburn Public · Associate degree | $66,734 | 37 | 30% | — | $23,724 |
| 5 | Northern Maine Community College Presque Isle Public · Associate degree | $66,455 | 21 | 42% | — | $20,750 |
| 6 | Southern Maine Community College South Portland Public · Associate degree | $67,850 | 85 | 28% | — | $24,496 |
Colleges awarding the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maine
Top 8 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Southern Maine Portland Public | 170 | $71,675 |
| 2 | University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent Public | 152 | $71,551 |
| 3 | Husson University Bangor Private not-for-profit | 128 | $73,758 |
| 4 | University of Maine Orono Public | 98 | $77,737 |
| 5 | Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish Private not-for-profit | 98 | $74,114 |
| 6 | Beal University Bangor Private for-profit | 91 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of New England Biddeford Private not-for-profit | 81 | $77,895 |
| 8 | York County Community College Wells Public | 25 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 7 Maine colleges offering Registered Nursing
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Maine Community College | South Portland | Public | 85 |
| University of Maine at Augusta | Augusta | Public | 60 |
| Eastern Maine Community College | Bangor | Public | 55 |
| Maine College of Health Professions | Lewiston | Private not-for-profit | 49 |
| Kennebec Valley Community College | Fairfield | Public | 45 |
| Central Maine Community College | Auburn | Public | 37 |
| Northern Maine Community College | Presque Isle | Public | 21 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Registered Nurses (SOC 29-1141).
Top skills
What Registered Nurses earn in Maine
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Registered Nursing programs in Maine.
Which Maine colleges award the most Registered Nursing degrees?+
University of Southern Maine (170 graduates a year), University of Maine at Fort Kent (152 graduates a year) and Husson University (128 graduates a year) award the most Registered Nursing degrees in Maine, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 15 Maine colleges offer Registered Nursing.
What is the best college for Registered Nursing in Maine?+
By graduate earnings, University of New England leads among bachelor's Registered Nursing programs in Maine, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $77,895, College Scorecard. University of Maine and Saint Joseph's College of Maine follow. By degrees awarded, University of Southern Maine is the largest, with 170 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Registered Nursing program in Maine has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of New England tops the list at $77,895. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Registered Nurses earn in Maine?+
The average annual wage for Registered Nurses in Maine is $91,700 (median $86,990), across about 16,540 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Registered Nursing program?+
The Registered Nursing program prepares students to become healthcare professionals who provide essential care to patients in various settings. This program covers a comprehensive curriculum that equips students with the necessary skills…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active listening, speaking, reading comprehension, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Registered Nurses?+
The national job outlook is about +4.9% growth with around 189,100 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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