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.
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Net prices are averages and may vary. Based on federal data for first-time, full-time students receiving aid.
| Cost Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Cost of Attendance (Sticker Price) | $60,128 |
| Tuition and Fees | $42,942 |
| Room and Board | $17,184 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,250 |
| Average Financial Aid (Grants and Scholarships) | -$21,790 |
| Average Net Price (What Families Pay) | $38,338 |
| Family Income | Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0–30k | $31,589 |
| $30–48k | $33,075 |
| $48–75k | $35,283 |
| $75–110k | $40,992 |
| $110k+ | $42,001 |
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 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 .
How much students borrow and whether debt is manageable given outcomes.
Debt-to-earnings data not available.
How cost compares to graduate earnings and value added.
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 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.
