Colleges Near Portland, Maine
Looking for information about the best colleges and universities serving Portland? Here's your guide to the top schools offering degrees to students in the area, including institutions located within 30 miles of Portland, Maine.
There are at least 10 colleges serving the area, including 7 private colleges and universities, 1 public college or university, and 1 community college offering 2-year degrees.
The Best Adult Colleges & Careers Guide provides a breakdown of the colleges serving Portland, with details about cost, enrollment, student type and degree offerings. Click here to learn more about the guide.
Portland, Maine Colleges by the Numbers
Associate, bachelor's, masters, and doctoral degree completions at institutions near Portland, Maine have been declining over the past 5 years. In 2023, students completed 5,404 doctorates at colleges and universities near Portland. That was a decrease of 5% from completions reported in 2019.
Schools with Degree Completions
Est. Total Completions in 2023
Est. Completions (Last 5 Years)
Sponsored
Top School For Adults & Online Students
Franklin University is a top choice for transfer students, online learners and adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Offerings
100%
Private Colleges & Universities Offering Degrees Near Portland, Maine
There are at least 7 schools offering degrees near Portland, Maine, and 7 are four-year private colleges or universities where about 14,320 undergraduate students were enrolled. In 2023, a total of 5,250 degrees were completed at private colleges and universities, including 3,293 that were offered online.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Franklin offers more than 50 online bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctoral programs in the Portland, Maine area. Franklin University is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes part-time. Most of the students are adults and all programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Franklin University. In 2023, 1,429 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 88 associate degrees, 616 master's degrees, and 38 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
5,117
Completions By Degree
2,171
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Bowdoin College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Bowdoin College. In 2023, 667 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
1,909
Completions By Degree
667
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Doctoral degrees are the most popular at Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts. In 2023, 9 doctoral degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 0 bachelor's degrees, 1 master's degree, were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
0
Completions By Degree
10
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of New England is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and minimal programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of New England. In 2023, 561 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 462 master's degrees, and 381 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
2,272
Completions By Degree
1,404
Est. Online Degree Availability
27%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Saint Joseph's College of Maine is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and most programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Saint Joseph's College of Maine. In 2023, 232 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 1 associate degree, 201 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
963
Completions By Degree
434
Est. Online Degree Availability
68%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Unity College is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and all programs completed were offered online. Master's degrees are the most popular at Unity College. In 2023, 226 master's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 225 bachelor's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
3,679
Completions By Degree
451
Est. Online Degree Availability
100%
Completions by Program Area
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Maine College of Art & Design is an institutionally accredited nonprofit 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and no programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at Maine College of Art & Design. In 2023, 80 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 33 master's degrees, and 0 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
380
Completions By Degree
113
Est. Online Degree Availability
0%
Completions by Program Area
Public Colleges & Universities Near Portland, Maine
There is 1 four-year public college located near Portland, Maine. About 4,322 students were enrolled in undergraduate programs, and about 1,631 degrees were completed at public colleges near Portland. Tuition shown reflects in-state rates.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
University of Southern Maine is an institutionally accredited public 4-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are of traditional age and some programs completed were offered online. Bachelor's degrees are the most popular at University of Southern Maine. In 2023, 966 bachelor's degrees were completed. In addition, 0 associate degrees, 570 master's degrees, and 95 doctoral degrees were earned.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,322
Completions By Degree
1,631
Est. Online Degree Availability
35%
Completions by Program Area
Community Colleges Near Portland, Maine
There is 1 community college near Portland, Maine where students can earn 2-year associate degrees. In 2023, about 4,527 students were enrolled in undergraduate courses at community colleges near Portland, and about 684 associate degrees were completed.
Avg. UG Tuition & Fees
School Type
Accredited
Non-Profit
Southern Maine Community College is an institutionally accredited 2-year school where most students attend classes full-time. Most of the students are a mixture of traditional and adult aged and minimal programs completed were offered online.
Undergraduate Enrollment
4,527
Completions By Degree
684
Est. Online Degree Availability
32%
Completions by Program Area
Affordable Colleges Near Portland, Maine
Wondering what you can expect to pay for a degree near Portland, Maine? According to undergraduate tuition data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, the average tuition at Portland-area's 4-year nonprofit schools is $35,652. The average tuition at similar 4-year for-profit schools near Portland is N/A, while tuition at 2-year online colleges and universities is N/A.
4-Year Nonprofit
4-Year For-Profit
2-Year
Accredited Colleges Serving Portland, Maine
Earning a college degree is an investment — and earning a degree from an institutionally accredited university is one of the best ways to ensure your education is of high quality. Institutionally accredited universities are held to rigorous standards by state and regional bodies and undergo regular reviews to verify that their processes and academic programs meet the proper standards.
Wondering if a certain college or university offering degree programs in Portland, Maine is institutionally accredited? View a list of institutionally accredited colleges and universities serving Portland, Maine here. We've made it easy to find your school by breaking down the list by school type.
- Franklin University
- Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts
- Bowdoin College
- University of New England
- Maine College of Art & Design
- Saint Joseph's College of Maine
- Unity College
- Southern Maine Community College
Portland, Maine Job Market & Opportunities
What happens after you earn your college degree in Portland? What's the Portland, Maine job market outlook? Get a snapshot of jobs and careers, including annual job openings, median earnings and more.
In 2023, there were about 380,785 jobs in the Portland, Maine area. From 2022-2023, job growth in Portland was above the national average, at 2.6%. There were 47,012 job openings in the area. In terms of earnings, workers in Portland do better than the national average, with an average hourly pay of $23.58.