Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1464 for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Maine College of Art & Design sits in the 7.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,550, placing the institution in the 1.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1464 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Portland, Maine, Maine College of Art & Design enrolls roughly 415 undergraduates. Retention is 71.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 51.5%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through completion in a specialized arts and design context. Maine College of Art & Design draws 28.6% Pell-eligible students and 23.9% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it as an accessible entry point to arts education for students from diverse economic backgrounds. Azimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1428 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,304 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Maine College of Art & Design in the 7.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's focus on Visual & Performing Arts, a field where creative training translates into durable career outcomes and where many graduates build independent practices or move into creative industries with sustained earning potential. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite, reflecting the institution's positioning as a specialized arts college with a smaller enrollment footprint and the cost structure typical of private nonprofit design schools. Maine College of Art & Design sits in the 8.7 percentile for access and the 4.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students committed to arts and design careers, the institution's strength in earnings beyond expectations — combined with its focus on creative disciplines — offers a meaningful financial return relative to the specialized nature of the education and the labor markets these graduates enter.
Maine College of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $60,128. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $31,589, families in the lower-middle range pay around $33,075, middle-income families pay about $35,283, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $40,992, and higher-income families pay roughly $42,001. Azimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1363 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Maine College of Art & Design meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The net price illusion explains how published sticker price and actual net price can differ substantially — a distinction that shapes affordability reality for families at institutions like this one. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,372; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $40,550, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Maine College of Art & Design is a strong fit for students drawn to visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in Portland, ME. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,550, placing Maine College of Art & Design in the 1.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,304 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 7.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 28.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.9% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Maine College of Art & Design in the 51.5% percentile for Pell completion rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $42,001, with need-based aid available to help close the gap for qualifying families. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 76.1% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors visual and performing arts over other fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a focused arts education in a creative community.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the Maine College Of Art & Design hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Maine College of Art & Design's published cost of attendance is $60,128. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $31,589, families in the lower-middle range pay around $33,075, middle-income families pay about $35,283, families in the upper-middle range pay approximately $40,992, and higher-income families pay roughly $42,001.
Azimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1363 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Maine College of Art & Design meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) explains how published sticker price and actual net price can differ substantially — a distinction that shapes affordability reality for families at institutions like this one.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $40,372; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. See the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $40,550, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Maine College of Art & Design earn median 4-year earnings of $40,550, placing Maine College of Art & Design in the 1.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $18,304 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Maine College of Art & Design in the 7.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Maine College of Art & Design #1428 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's concentration in visual and performing arts, fields where early-career earnings vary widely depending on career pathway and geographic market.
The earnings pattern centers on Visual & Performing Arts. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 29 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $39,443, representing 0.8× the national benchmark for the field.
The Fine and Studio Arts program graduates 24 students with median 4-year earnings of $34,720. Graphic Communications and Film/Video and Photographic Arts round out the program portfolio, with Film/Video and Photographic Arts graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,600 at 1.0× the national benchmark.
For students in creative fields, these figures represent meaningful long-term financial outcomes relative to ME's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $35,051.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
8 graduates
Design and Applied Arts
29 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
24 graduates
Maine College of Art & Design concentrates its program portfolio in visual and performing arts — a signature that reflects the institution's identity as a specialized design and art college. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 29 graduates, followed by Fine and Studio Arts with 24 graduates, Graphic Communications, and Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 8 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 75 students annually, the institution's strength lies in the depth and breadth of its creative disciplines rather than in programs ranked at the national top quartile. The earnings pattern reflects the creative-industries focus.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts leads with median earnings of $41,600 four years after enrollment, followed by Design and Applied Arts with graduates earning $39,443, and Fine and Studio Arts with graduates earning $34,720. These figures are characteristic of creative-field outcomes, where early-career earnings reflect entry into design studios, creative agencies, freelance work, and emerging creative roles rather than the higher starting salaries typical of engineering or finance fields.
Maine College of Art & Design's program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts, a portfolio that serves students seeking direct entry into creative careers and design-focused professional pathways. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-field outcomes align with labor-market demand in design, media, and arts-adjacent sectors.
For students prioritizing creative practice and artistic development over maximum early-career earnings, the institution's specialized focus and concentrated program depth offer a distinctive educational pathway.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houghton University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36280 ranked) | NY | 89% | $46,721 | #36280 | Compare |
Truett Mcconnell University Similar quality tier (#36278 ranked) | GA | 78% | $46,700 | #36278 | Compare |
Bard College At Simon's Rock Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36276 ranked) | MA | 96% | $46,543 | #36276 | Compare |
Northland College Similar quality tier (#36284 ranked) | WI | 75% | $44,560 | #36284 | Compare |
Mitchell College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36273 ranked) | CT | 95% | $39,115 | #36273 | Compare |
