10-YEAR PAYOFF CURVECumulative economic payoff after graduation
−$123,214at year 10Net gainInvestment not yet recovered
NET GAIN$0UNRECOVERED
Public · COLLEGE PAYOFF
University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME · 39 field-and-degree records
Earnings reported for 36 · Federal debt reported for 27
Based onObserved earnings + college priceEstimate10-year payoff
Estimated 10-year payoff
Negative payoff
−$123,214 over 10 years
Modeled from observed year-5 institution earnings and the institution-wide average net price over four years.
21.1 yrsTime to earn back the modeled cost
−53%Estimated return after 10 years
$56,117Observed earnings · year 5
Not reachedHighest annual price before payoff reaches $0
Start with your question
What do you want to understand?
ECONOMIC INVESTMENT → PAYBACK
Estimated payoff over ten years.
The scenario counts direct price and earnings forgone upfront, then applies the reported annual earnings premium.
FEDERAL COST DATA
Four ways to read college price.
Annual college-wide figures from the current College Scorecard release. Average net price covers full-time, first-time undergraduates receiving federal aid; public-college figures use in-state students. Program tuition and individual aid offers may differ.
PUBLISHED STUDENT BUDGET · 2024–25
What makes up the annual price?
Sticker-price components reported to IPEDS. Grants and scholarships are not subtracted here.
Living off campus: $13,832 housing and food allowance plus $3,160 in other expenses.
Do not confuse this with net price. Net price subtracts average grants and scholarships. DegreeVerdict continues to use the separately labeled average net price in its standard college ROI scenario.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price−$68,830
$8,000Annual price−$100,830
$14,000Current college-wide context−$124,830
$16,000Annual price−$132,830
$24,000Annual price−$164,830
$32,000Annual price−$196,830
$40,000Annual price−$228,830
HOW STUDENTS ATTEND · 2023-24
Most students take at least some classes online.
IPEDS enrollment counts show course delivery across the whole institution. They do not indicate whether a specific degree can be completed online.
Institution-level attendance context from IPEDS. Program delivery is reported separately on degree pages and in the program directory. These figures do not enter ROI.
College identity and local contextAccreditation, institution type, dual enrollment and state prices
COLLEGE AT A GLANCE
Institution details
Current federal characteristics describing the college, not the outcomes of a specific program.
- Accreditor
- New England Commission on Higher Education
- Main award level
- Bachelor’s degrees
- Campus setting
- City
- Admissions
- Selective admission
- Delivery
- Campus or mixed delivery
- Federal designation
- No special designation reported
DUAL-ENROLLMENT CONTEXT · 2024
1,456 high-school students took college courses.
IPEDS counts students enrolled in college credit while still in high school. A large dual-enrollment population can shape headline enrollment figures, especially at community colleges.
This is participation, not a college completion rate. It does not indicate how many students later enrolled after high school, earned a credential or entered the workforce.
STATE PRICE CONTEXT · 2024
Prices in Maine run 3% below the U.S. level.
BEA Regional Price Parities compare price levels across states. A value of 100 equals the national average.
What it costs and what graduates earn
$13,596Average net price / year
$23,717Cost of attendance
$19,060Median federal student debt · completer borrowers
$202/moPublished 10-year payment estimate
$56,117Median earnings · year 5 after completion
40.4%Completion rate
79.2%Admission rate
1,116Average SAT score
22ACT midpoint
4,222Student size
Debt covers federal student-loan borrowers who completed. It does not include Parent PLUS or private loans. We show admissions scores only when a valid federal value is available.
What the numbers say about University of Southern Maine
What does University of Southern Maine cost?
University of Southern Maine reports an average annual net price of $13,596 after grants and scholarships. This is an institution-wide average, not an individual aid offer.
What do University of Southern Maine graduates earn?
The observed median earnings figure is $56,117 5 years after completion. It describes a federal cohort, not a guaranteed starting salary.
How much federal debt do University of Southern Maine graduates have?
Completer borrowers report median cumulative federal student debt of $19,060. Parent PLUS and private loans are not included.
Is every degree at University of Southern Maine worth the same?
No. The current release contains 39 field-and-degree records for University of Southern Maine; 36 report year-4 earnings and 27 report federal debt. Outcomes can differ substantially by field and degree level.
DEBT AFTER COLLEGE
Are borrowers making progress?
Repayment progress, default and debt at exit describe different federal borrower cohorts. They are shown separately and do not change the ROI estimate.
Source: College Scorecard. Repayment progress is the share of borrowers who reduced principal by at least $1 at the stated measurement point. Debt covers federal student loans; Parent PLUS and private loans are excluded. Cohorts and reporting periods differ across measures.
Who studied here during the year
9,702Students enrolled at any point
6,885Undergraduate students
2,817Graduate students
Unduplicated students enrolled at any point from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. This full-year measure is different from a fall headcount and does not enter ROI.
More student and earnings detailPrice by family income, retention, equity and common industries
WHO PAYS, WHO FINISHES, WHO EARNS
Outcomes are not the same for every family.
These federal cohorts add context that a single college average can hide. Missing figures remain unreported rather than estimated.
Complete within 150% of the expected time
48% received a Pell Grant within eight yearsMedian Parent PLUS debt
366 parent borrowers in the reported cohortMedian federal student debt
61% making progress in repayment after three yearsStudent family incomeMedian earnings after 10 yearsObserved federal cohorts
Lower income$45,493Earnings are not a guarantee
Middle income$52,277Earnings are not a guarantee
Higher income$59,383Earnings are not a guarantee
Three-year repayment progress
Lower income60%
Middle income66%
Higher income71%
Undergraduate student composition
White75%
Black9%
Hispanic4%
Asian3%
Source: College Scorecard, June 2026 release. Parent PLUS debt belongs to parents; student-debt measures exclude Parent PLUS and private loans. Cohort definitions differ by measure.
INDEPENDENT CENSUS EARNINGS VIEW
How earnings develop by field
Privacy-protected Census employment records follow graduate cohorts one, five and ten years after completion. This source is kept separate from College Scorecard because its population and methodology differ.
Field and credentialYear 1Year 5Year 10
Accounting and Related Services.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 52
$72,371Year 1
$101,968Year 5
$116,487Year 10
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 14
$65,634Year 1
$92,861Year 5
$114,306Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 51
$67,042Year 1
$89,787Year 5
$110,405Year 10
Law.Doctoral, professional practice · Broad federal field 22
$65,498Year 1
$80,015Year 5
$110,369Year 10
Computer Programming.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 11
$71,961Year 1
$94,046Year 5
$104,398Year 10
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology.Master’s degree · Broad federal field 26
$71,605Year 1
$77,901Year 5
$96,791Year 10
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 15
$61,332Year 1
$74,872Year 5
$93,359Year 10
Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences.Bachelor’s degree · Broad federal field 51
$51,985Year 1
$69,652Year 5
$81,157Year 10
Median annual earnings in 2023 dollars. Each time point may use a different pooled graduation cohort. Coverage is limited to institutions participating in the Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes program.
NATIONAL CONTEXT
How this college compares
Percentiles compare this institution with currently operating colleges that report the same federal measure.
WHAT STANDS OUT
A faster read on this college
These summaries use every reportable field-and-credential record at this institution. They do not fill privacy-suppressed outcomes.
EARNINGS OVER TIME
What graduates earned in later years
$47,251Year 1
$60,816Year 4
$56,117Year 5
Each year can represent a different federal cohort, so the points do not track the same people over time.
Your choice of degree can change the payoff.
Graduate earnings differ by field and credential, even within the same college.
1Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Master's Degree$118,9082Business Administration, Management and Operations · Master's Degree$94,7213Mechanical Engineering · Bachelor's Degree$88,5154Public Health · Master's Degree$88,4045Law · First Professional Degree$83,9126Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management · Bachelor's Degree$79,3527Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians · Bachelor's Degree$77,7348Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · Bachelor's Degree$75,465Observed year-4 earnings · compare the same field and credential across colleges
Programs that stand out against the same-degree benchmark
This view rewards performance relative to the same field and credential, not simply majors that pay more everywhere.
1Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and ServicesBachelor's Degree · $55,435 reported+11%vs same-degree national median$25,437federal debt2Natural Resources Conservation and ResearchBachelor's Degree · $60,665 reported+10%vs same-degree national median$26,513federal debt3Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/FitnessBachelor's Degree · $60,086 reported+10%vs same-degree national median$25,500federal debt4Public HealthMaster's Degree · $88,404 reported+7%vs same-degree national medianNot availablefederal debt5CriminologyBachelor's Degree · $59,270 reported+7%vs same-degree national median$23,565federal debt6Fine and Studio ArtsBachelor's Degree · $43,514 reported+5%vs same-degree national median$18,703federal debt
Comparable colleges in ME
Currently operating public institutions with the closest combination of annual net price and observed year-5 earnings. Similarity is descriptive, not a quality ranking.
Orono, ME
University of Maine
- Annual net price
- $17,510
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $57,355
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -51%
University of Maine at Fort Kent
- Annual net price
- $7,482
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $60,664
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -25%
University of Maine at Augusta
- Annual net price
- $10,924
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $47,260
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -90%
Southern Maine Community College
- Annual net price
- $11,086
- Observed earnings · year 5
- $46,606
- Modeled 10-year ROI
- -93%
Compare fields and degree levels
Showing all 39 field-and-degree records in the current release.
| Major or field | Degree level | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 2024–25 graduates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Master's Degree | $118,908 | Not available | 1 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Master's Degree | $94,721 | Not available | Not reported |
| Mechanical Engineering | Bachelor's Degree | $88,515 | $35,731 | Not reported |
| Public Health | Master's Degree | $88,404 | Not available | Not reported |
| Law | First Professional Degree | $83,912 | Not available | Not reported |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | Bachelor's Degree | $79,352 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | Bachelor's Degree | $77,734 | $24,771 | Not reported |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | Bachelor's Degree | $75,465 | $29,242 | 0 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | Bachelor's Degree | $73,068 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Accounting and Related Services | Bachelor's Degree | $71,945 | $19,230 | Not reported |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | Master's Degree | $67,576 | Not available | Not reported |
| Public Policy Analysis | Master's Degree | $66,469 | Not available | Not reported |
| Political Science and Government | Bachelor's Degree | $65,836 | $19,212 | Not reported |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | Bachelor's Degree | $65,230 | $25,042 | 4 |
| Social Work | Master's Degree | $62,912 | Not available | Not reported |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | Bachelor's Degree | $60,665 | $26,513 | Not reported |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | Bachelor's Degree | $60,086 | $25,500 | Not reported |
| Criminology | Bachelor's Degree | $59,270 | $23,565 | Not reported |
| Biology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $58,164 | $25,125 | Not reported |
| Special Education and Teaching | Master's Degree | $58,059 | Not available | Not reported |
| Marketing | Bachelor's Degree | $57,968 | $22,616 | Not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Bachelor's Degree | $57,790 | $22,654 | Not reported |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | Master's Degree | $56,490 | Not available | 1 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | Bachelor's Degree | $55,435 | $25,437 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | Master's Degree | $53,547 | Not available | 1 |
| Communication and Media Studies | Bachelor's Degree | $53,033 | $22,623 | Not reported |
| Social Work | Bachelor's Degree | $52,903 | $22,610 | Not reported |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | Master's Degree | $52,322 | Not available | Not reported |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | Bachelor's Degree | $48,909 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | Bachelor's Degree | $47,748 | $20,500 | Not reported |
| Psychology, General | Bachelor's Degree | $45,529 | $20,730 | Not reported |
| Social Sciences, Other | Bachelor's Degree | $45,523 | $24,825 | Not reported |
| English Language and Literature, General | Bachelor's Degree | $43,823 | $25,000 | Not reported |
| Fine and Studio Arts | Bachelor's Degree | $43,514 | $18,703 | Not reported |
| History | Bachelor's Degree | $42,778 | $27,000 | 0 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | Bachelor's Degree | $33,005 | Not available | 0 |
| Computer Science | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $20,387 | Not reported |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $26,500 | 2 |
| Economics | Bachelor's Degree | Not available | $12,996 | Not reported |
Graduate counts come from IPEDS and group related majors into the same federal field. Missing earnings or debt values remain labeled as unavailable.
Earnings, price, completion and enrollment are observed federal measures. ROI, payoff and break-even are modeled scenarios built from those measures and fixed assumptions. College payoff is not the payoff of every degree at this school; use the program table for a more precise comparison.