Maine Maritime Academy vs. Nichols

Comparable Facts

Compare Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, ME with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Maine Maritime Academy based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 971 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Maine Maritime Academy is located in Castine, ME (Distant Rural setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Maine Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Maine Maritime Academy 10:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Maine Maritime Academy vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Maine Maritime Academy or Nichols? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Maine Maritime Academy than Nichols ($23,618 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maine Maritime Academy are 22.3% lower than at Nichols College ($12,282 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 181.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maine Maritime Academy (about $27,547 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,158.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.3% higher at Nichols than at Maine Maritime Academy (about $11,603 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $31,102.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maine Maritime Academy than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 235.2% larger than aid received by Maine Maritime Academy students ($25,809 vs. $7,699).

Maine Maritime Academy vs. Nichols Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Maine Maritime Academy or Nichols? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Nichols and Maine Maritime Academy.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Maine Maritime Academy (1180) is 50 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maine Maritime Academy 1095/1260; Nichols College 1028/1236.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Maine Maritime Academy 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Maine Maritime Academy - Test optional; Nichols - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Maine Maritime Academy Mar 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Maine Maritime Academy students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Maine Maritime Academy (54.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.7% at Maine Maritime Academy vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

Maine Maritime Academy vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Maine Maritime Academy and Nichols? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Maine Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (69%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Maine Maritime Academy earn a median of about $48,500 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($100,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Nichols College and Maine Maritime Academy graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Nichols College and Maine Maritime Academy graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Maine Maritime Academy graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.