Maine doesn't get a lot of attention for its colleges, but there are 9 towns in the state with at least one four-year school -- and some of them make great places to spend four years.
We wanted to know which ones are the best college towns. You know the type of place: plenty of students, plenty to do, affordable rent, and safe enough to walk around at night.
So we used Saturday Night Science to rank all 9 of them on the colleges themselves, the town around them, and things to do. Presque Isle came out on top.
The 9 Best College Towns In Maine For 2026
Want the bigger picture? See where Maine's towns land among the best college towns in America.
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| Colleges | University of Maine at Presque Isle |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,913 (22 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 8,736 |
| Median rent | $904 |
| Graduation rate | 40% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,113 |
Presque Isle is home to University of Maine at Presque Isle. There are 22 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $904 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,113 a year. It ranks 4th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Bowdoin College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,873 (11 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,652 |
| Median rent | $1,465 |
| Graduation rate | 97% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $85,100 |
Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College. There are 11 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,465 a month, and the average cost to attend is $85,100 a year. It ranks 2nd for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Maine |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 8,496 (76 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 11,151 |
| Median rent | $1,280 |
| Graduation rate | 57% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $27,328 |
Orono is home to University of Maine. There are 76 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,280 a month, and the average cost to attend is $27,328 a year. It ranks 1st for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Bates College, Maine College of Health Professions |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 1,999 (5 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 38,324 |
| Median rent | $986 |
| Graduation rate | 82% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $55,180 |
Lewiston is home to Bates College, Maine College of Health Professions. There are 5 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $986 a month, and the average cost to attend is $55,180 a year. It ranks 3rd for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Southern Maine, Maine College of Art & Design, Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 4,637 (7 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 68,854 |
| Median rent | $1,577 |
| Graduation rate | 55% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $41,922 |
Portland is home to University of Southern Maine, Maine College of Art & Design, Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts. There are 7 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,577 a month, and the average cost to attend is $41,922 a year. It ranks 6th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Colby College, Thomas College |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,054 (18 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 17,077 |
| Median rent | $978 |
| Graduation rate | 73% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $66,309 |
Waterville is home to Colby College, Thomas College. There are 18 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $978 a month, and the average cost to attend is $66,309 a year. It ranks 7th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of Maine at Augusta |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,659 (14 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 19,077 |
| Median rent | $919 |
| Graduation rate | 32% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $19,052 |
Augusta is home to University of Maine at Augusta. There are 14 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $919 a month, and the average cost to attend is $19,052 a year. It ranks 8th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | Husson University, Beal University |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 3,102 (10 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 31,938 |
| Median rent | $1,055 |
| Graduation rate | 53% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $35,852 |
Bangor is home to Husson University, Beal University. There are 10 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,055 a month, and the average cost to attend is $35,852 a year. It ranks 9th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
| Colleges | University of New England |
|---|---|
| Undergrads | 2,135 (9 per 100 residents) |
| Population | 22,498 |
| Median rent | $1,292 |
| Graduation rate | 64% |
| Cost to attend (per year) | $63,245 |
Biddeford is home to University of New England. There are 9 undergrads for every 100 residents, the median rent is $1,292 a month, and the average cost to attend is $63,245 a year. It ranks 5th for crime among the 9 towns we ranked.
Saturday Night Science
How we determined the best college towns in Maine
First, we decided that every town on the list had to have at least one four-year college -- a school that grants bachelor's degrees -- and at least 5,000 residents. There are 9 towns in Maine that fit the bill.
Then we ranked every town on these categories:
- The town: unemployment rate, median rent, and crime per capita
- The colleges: graduation rate, the average cost to attend, and student body diversity
- Things to do: bars, museums and libraries per capita, and population density
- Students: undergrads as a share of the population
- Size: population, since bigger towns have more going on
We ranked each town on every measure, averaged those ranks into a score for each category, and then averaged the categories. The town with the best overall score is the best college town in Maine.
Our data comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (enrollment, graduation rates, cost, and diversity), the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the FBI's 2024 crime report. We left out colleges that are online-only or mostly online, since their students don't actually live in town. A handful of towns don't report crime to the FBI, so we gave them the average.
We updated this article for 2026. This is our eleventh time ranking the best college towns in Maine.
Summary
There You Have It -- The Best College Towns In Maine
If you're looking for the best college towns in Maine, Presque Isle is where to start.
The best college towns in Maine are Presque Isle, Brunswick, Orono, Lewiston, Portland, Waterville, Augusta, Bangor, and Biddeford.
For more college towns, check out the best college towns in America.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best college town in Maine for 2026?
Presque Isle is the best college town in Maine for 2026, followed by Brunswick and Orono.
How did you rank the best college towns in Maine?
We looked at every town in Maine with at least 5,000 residents and a four-year college, then ranked them on city characteristics, college characteristics, things to do, the share of residents who are students, and size. The town with the best average rank is number one.
What is the worst college town in Maine?
Biddeford ranks last of the 9 college towns we ranked in Maine for 2026.
Best College Towns In Maine For 2026
| Rank | City | Population | Undergrads | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Presque Isle, ME | 8,736 | 1,913 | $904 |
| 2 | Brunswick, ME | 17,652 | 1,873 | $1,465 |
| 3 | Orono, ME | 11,151 | 8,496 | $1,280 |
| 4 | Lewiston, ME | 38,324 | 1,999 | $986 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | 68,854 | 4,637 | $1,577 |
| 6 | Waterville, ME | 17,077 | 3,054 | $978 |
| 7 | Augusta, ME | 19,077 | 2,659 | $919 |
| 8 | Bangor, ME | 31,938 | 3,102 | $1,055 |
| 9 | Biddeford, ME | 22,498 | 2,135 | $1,292 |
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