Colby College vs. University of Maine

Should I go to Colby College or University of Maine? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or University of Maine is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. University of Maine comparison
Colby College University of Maine College 3 College 4
Colby College University of Maine
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Overview

Colby College University of Maine
Location Waterville, ME Orono, ME
Setting Remote Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 2,284 11,760
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #37 #503
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu umaine.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College University of Maine
Tuition (In State) $63,790 $12,000
Tuition (Out of State) $63,790 $34,740
Room & Board $17,120 $12,696
Avg Net Price $15,163 $18,237
Avg Grant Aid $66,387 $11,376
% Receiving Grant Aid 42% 97%

Admission

Colby College University of Maine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 17,786 13,995
Admitted 1,215 13,395
Acceptance Rate 6.8% 95.7%
Enrolled % 49.8% 13.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.42
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Elite Difficult
Applicant Competition Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 22/30
SAT Range 1440/1550 1070/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Colby College University of Maine
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

Colby College University of Maine
Graduation Rate 91% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 74%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $200 $268

Diversity

Colby College University of Maine
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 0% 13%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 62% 82%
% Black 3% 2%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 11% 2%
% Unknown Race 7% 5%

Students

Colby College University of Maine
% In-State 7% 59%
% Out-of-State 79% 40%

Campus

Colby College University of Maine
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Maine is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (11,760 students vs. 2,284 students)

Colby College vs. University of Maine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or University of Maine?

  • Colby College is 431.6% more expensive to attend than University of Maine for in-state tuition ($63,790.00 vs. $12,000.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.6% higher at Colby College than University of Maine ($63,790.00 vs. $34,740.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than University of Maine ($15,163 vs. $18,237)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Maine are 34.8% lower than costs at Colby College ($12,696 vs. $17,120)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Maine than Colby College (97% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 483.6% larger than aid received University of Maine ($66,387 vs. $11,376)

Colby College vs. University of Maine Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or University of Maine? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of Maine or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Colby College (1363) is 273 points higher than at University of Maine (1090)
  • Incoming Colby College students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (31) than students at University of Maine (25)
  • Accepted freshman Colby College students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at University of Maine (3.42)
  • University of Maine has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Colby College (6.8%)

Colby College vs. University of Maine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or University of Maine? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between University of Maine and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Colby College is higher than University of Maine (91% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Colby College earn on average $26,700 more per year than University of Maine graduates after ten years. ($73,400 vs. $46,700)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $6,655 lower median federal student loan debt than University of Maine graduates. ($19,345 vs. $26,000)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $68 less per month on federal student loans than University of Maine graduates. ($200 vs. $268)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Maine students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 74%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/