How Do Maine’s Colleges Rank in 2025? Find Out Who’s on Top

Fall has officially arrived here in Maine. That means (allegedly) cooler weather, leaves falling, football-filled weekends, and schools bustling with the next generation of leaders.

It’s also that time of year when annual school rankings begin to roll out—most notably, the U.S. News & World Report’s highly anticipated list of the best colleges in the country.

These rankings are more than just bragging rights. U.S. News & World Report meticulously analyzes thousands of American colleges to identify the cream of the crop. The rankings are broken down into a wide variety of categories, with customizable search filters to help readers find what matters most to them.

How did Maine do in this Year's College Rankings?

Maine performed relatively well in this year’s rankings, with several schools earning top spots—particularly in the liberal arts college category. Here’s a closer look:

T5. Bowdoin College – Brunswick
The highest-ranked school in Maine, Bowdoin tied for 5th nationally among liberal arts colleges. Often referred to as one of the “Baby Ivies,” Bowdoin is recognized for its high graduation rate, strong job placement, and outstanding faculty recommendations.

T24. Colby College – Waterville
Colby tied for 24th and earned high marks for its academic opportunities, campus facilities, and strong post-graduation salary outcomes.

T24. Bates College – Lewiston
Also tied at 24th, Bates rounds out Maine’s trio of elite liberal arts colleges. It is particularly noted for student development, innovative learning environments, and its unique “Short Term” spring semester, which focuses on immersive, experiential learning.

For context, the top three liberal arts colleges this year were Williams College, Amherst College, and the United States Naval Academy.

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How Did Maine's Colleges do in the National Rankings?

In the national university category, three Maine schools landed in the top 350:

257. University of Maine – Orono
Maine’s flagship public university nearly cracked the top 250. It scored well in student preparation, academic development, and continues to invest in its campus infrastructure.

293. University of New England – Biddeford
UNE made a strong showing, particularly in nursing, student life, and facilities. It remains one of Southern Maine’s most prominent private universities.

329. Husson University – Bangor
Rounding out Maine’s entries, Husson earned recognition for its low student-to-faculty ratio, strong job placement, and engaged student life.

The top three national universities were Princeton, MIT, and Harvard.

You can check out the all the rankings here.