2026 College Rankings

Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine

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First-year retention rates measure the percentage of first-year students who come back to campus for a second year. This is an indicator of how happy students are generally with their decision to attend that institution as less students decide to drop out or transfer to another school.

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Rank	Institution	First Year Retention Rate	Acceptance Rate	SAT Score	Your Est. Net Price Avg. Net Price	Median Starting Salary	Save
1	Bowdoin College	96.83	7.13	1,470 – 1,550	23110	61692	#1 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Bowdoin College Brunswick, ME Bowdoin College is an extremely selective private liberal arts school. The college offers more than 40 majors, including joint Engineering programs with Columbia, Dartmouth, Caltech, and the University of Maine....Read more First Year Retention Rate 97 % 0.6% Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,470 – 1,550 Avg. Net Price $23,110 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,692
2	Colby College	93.39	7.09	1,460 – 1,540	15163	60052	#2 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Colby College Waterville, ME Colby College is a private liberal arts school and home to the Perkins Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary. It boasts a strong student-to-faculty of 10 to 1, a 93% first year retention rate, and an 81% four-year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 93 % 3.8% Acceptance Rate 7.1% SAT Score 1,460 – 1,540 Avg. Net Price $15,163 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $60,052
3	Bates College	91.3	13.32	1,380 – 1,510	26658	59202	#3 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Bates College Lewiston, ME Bates College, the first coeducational college in New England, was founded in 1855. It also admitted minority students before the Emancipation Proclamation. An extremely selective school, Bates has a 91% first year retention rate, 88% four-year graduation rate, and a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. First Year Retention Rate 91 % 2.9% Acceptance Rate 13.3% SAT Score 1,380 – 1,510 Avg. Net Price $26,658 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $59,202
4	College of the Atlantic	85	70.17	1,260 – 1,430	22692	53774	#4 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, ME Based in Bar Harbor, the College of the Atlantic’s acceptance rate is 70% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 98% of students at the College of the Atlantic currently receive institutional grant aid. 85% of students decide to stay at the College of the Atlantic after completing their first year....Read more First Year Retention Rate 85 % 32.8% Acceptance Rate 70.2% SAT Score 1,260 – 1,430 Avg. Net Price $22,692 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $53,774
5	Maine Maritime Academy	81.66	56.06	1,100 – 1,260	21433	93944	#5 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Located on a peninsula on the Bagaduce River and Penobscot Bay, the Maine Maritime Academy is a non-federal maritime training school. Students aren’t required to join the military after graduation. Many study Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer. A fairly selective school, 30% of those accepted enroll. First Year Retention Rate 82 % 0.4% Acceptance Rate 56.1% SAT Score 1,100 – 1,260 Avg. Net Price $21,433 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $93,944
6	University of Maine at Augusta	80	6.83	--	11569	36467	#6 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Maine at Augusta Augusta, ME Found in Augusta, the University of Maine at Augusta accepts 7% of applicants. Undergraduates have to send in $40 to apply. About 59% of students at the University of Maine at Augusta currently receive institutional grant aid. At the University of Maine at Augusta, there is a 80% first year retention rate and around 5% of......Read more First Year Retention Rate 80 % Acceptance Rate 6.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $11,569 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $36,467
7	University of New England	79.4	91.63	1,050 – 1,240	38675	48957	#7 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of New England Biddeford, ME Founded in 1939 as College Séraphique, The University of New England underwent several name changes before receiving its current moniker in 1996. The school has two campuses, one in Maine and one in Tangier, Morocco. UNE is also the largest private university in the state and the five schools offer 52 majors and programs. First Year Retention Rate 79 % 6.4% Acceptance Rate 91.6% SAT Score 1,050 – 1,240 Avg. Net Price $38,675 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $48,957
8	Saint Joseph's College of Maine	76	81.72	960 – 1,150	28268	52884	#8 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Saint Joseph's College of Maine Standish, ME Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is located on the shore of Sebago Lake. 336 athletes, known as the Monks, compete in Basketball, Track and Field and Cross Country (combined), and Lacrosse, among others. 99% of students receive grant aid, averaging $29,900 each. First Year Retention Rate 76 % Acceptance Rate 81.7% SAT Score 960 – 1,150 Avg. Net Price $28,268 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $52,884
9	Husson University	75	80.95	1,020 – 1,210	21101	41554	#9 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Husson University Bangor, ME Husson University opened as a branch of Shaw Business College in 1898. It was Husson College by 1947, and became a university in 2008. Popular majors include Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration....Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % 1.3% Acceptance Rate 81.0% SAT Score 1,020 – 1,210 Avg. Net Price $21,101 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $41,554
10	Maine College of Art & Design	75	77.55	870 – 1,190	37132	24333	#10 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Maine College of Art & Design Portland, ME Located in Portland, Maine College of Art & Design accepts 78% of applicants. They charge unknown for undergraduate applications and $70 for graduate applications. About 100% of students attending Maine College of Art & Design currently receive institutional grant aid to make attending college more affordable. At Maine......Read more First Year Retention Rate 75 % Acceptance Rate 77.6% SAT Score 870 – 1,190 Avg. Net Price $37,132 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $24,333
11	University of Southern Maine	73.94	79.31	1,010 – 1,250	12006	47107	#11 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Southern Maine Portland, ME Found in Portland, the University of Southern Maine’s acceptance rate is 79%. Undergraduates have to pay unknown to apply. About 91% of students at the University of Southern Maine will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 74 % 2.2% Acceptance Rate 79.3% SAT Score 1,010 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $12,006 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $47,107
12	University of Maine at Farmington	72.65	96.72	1,000 – 1,250	15383	31513	#12 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Maine at Farmington Farmington, ME The University of Maine at Farmington opened in 1864, originally known as the Western State Normal School. It underwent several name changes over the following century. The school newspaper is “The Farmington Flyer,” and the Beavers wear maroon, gold, and gray, and compete in the North Atlantic Conference. First Year Retention Rate 73 % 8.0% Acceptance Rate 96.7% SAT Score 1,000 – 1,250 Avg. Net Price $15,383 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,513
13	Thomas College	71	97.07	800 – 1,010	18882	40495	#13 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Thomas College Waterville, ME Located in Waterville, Thomas College accepts 97% of applicants and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 100% of attending students currently receive institutional grant aid. At Thomas College, there is a 71% first year retention rate and around 44% of students will earn a degree within four years....Read more First Year Retention Rate 71 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 800 – 1,010 Avg. Net Price $18,882 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,495
14	University of Maine at Fort Kent	69	99.07	1,080 – 1,080	10736	61217	#14 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Maine at Fort Kent Fort Kent, ME Based in Fort Kent, the University of Maine at Fort Kent’s acceptance rate is 99% and charges unknown for undergraduate applications. About 92% of attending students will receive grant aid from the school. At the University of Maine at Fort Kent, there is a 69% first year retention rate and a 25% four year graduation rate....Read more First Year Retention Rate 69 % Acceptance Rate 99.1% SAT Score 1,080 – 1,080 Avg. Net Price $10,736 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $61,217
15	University of Maine	67	96.84	1,060 – 1,360	18237	43124	#15 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Maine Orono, ME Found in Orono, the University of Maine accepted 97% students who applied to the school in the last admissions cycle and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. About 95% of students at the University of Maine will receive grant aid from the school. The institution’s first year retention rate is 67% and......Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 96.8% SAT Score 1,060 – 1,360 Avg. Net Price $18,237 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $43,124
16	University of Maine at Presque Isle	67	97.09	810 – 1,040	9773	33793	#16 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine University of Maine at Presque Isle Presque Isle, ME Found in Presque Isle, the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s acceptance rate is 97% and requires $40 for undergraduate applications and . About 76% of students attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle will receive grant aid from the school....Read more First Year Retention Rate 67 % Acceptance Rate 97.1% SAT Score 810 – 1,040 Avg. Net Price $9,773 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $33,793
17	Beal University	60	13.02	--	33518	40158	#17 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Beal University Bangor, ME Found in Bangor, Beal University accepts 13% of applicants. They request $30 for undergraduate applications, but some students qualify for fee waivers. About 1% of students attending Beal University currently receive institutional grant aid. The college’s first year retention rate is 60% and around 0% of students will graduate......Read more First Year Retention Rate 60 % Acceptance Rate 13.0% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $33,518 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $40,158
18	Unity Environmental University	42	81.8	--	17734	31698	#18 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Unity Environmental University New Gloucester, ME Located in New Gloucester, Unity Environmental University accepts 82% of applicants and requests unknown to apply, but fee waivers may be available. Approximately 0% of attending students will receive institutional grant aid. The first year retention rate is 42%....Read more First Year Retention Rate 42 % Acceptance Rate 81.8% SAT Score -- Avg. Net Price $17,734 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $31,698
19	Maine College of Health Professions	0	33.33	880 – 1,070	0	63721	#19 2026 Top Colleges Ranked by First Year Retention Rate in Maine Maine College of Health Professions Lewiston, ME First Year Retention Rate -- Acceptance Rate 33.3% SAT Score 880 – 1,070 Avg. Net Price $0 Sign in to see your Estimated Net Price Median Starting Salary $63,721