Lowest In-State Tuition for a Bachelor’s
$12,090 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents (2024–25), the lowest among the 4 bachelor’s programs shown here.
Maine · Economics Rankings · 2027 
Best Economics Programs in Maine for 2027
Maine’s top two are private liberal arts colleges, Bowdoin and Bates, at $66,590 to $67,832 a year, and Bowdoin graduates 95%. The University of Maine ($13,326) and the University of Southern Maine ($12,090) cost far less but graduate 55% and 40%. All four programs end at the bachelor’s.
By Taylor Rupe, Editor
Economics Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Maine
4 schools in Maine awarded economics bachelor’s degrees in 2023–24, scored against 670 bachelor’s programs nationwide.
- 1
Bowdoin College
Economics Major
73.2 Comparison ScoreBowdoin's economics major rests on Principles of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (or the combined quantitative reasoning version, ECON 1050), then three core courses: ECON 2555 Microeconomics, ECON 2556 Macroeconomics and ECON 2557 Economic Statistics. Majors then complete four topics courses, three of them advanced, and many of those require a long research paper. ECON 3516 Econometrics deepens the empirical side. Interdisciplinary majors in economics with computer science or mathematics are available, as are coordinate majors with digital and computational studies, education or environmental studies. Students interested in graduate school often undertake an honors project.
- Core
- ECON 2555, 2556 and 2557
- Topics Courses
- Four, with three at the advanced level
- Interdisciplinary Options
- Economics and computer science, mathematics and economics, coordinate majors
- Honors
- Honors project for graduate-school bound students
Program Sources: Economics, Bowdoin College Catalogue
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 63 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 95% 508 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $121,983 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $67,832 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $67,832 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 2
Bates College
Economics Major
65.8 Comparison ScoreBates puts empirical work early: besides intermediate micro and macro, every major takes calculus, statistics and econometrics before starting upper-level electives. The second distinctive piece is the senior thesis. Most students complete it in a thesis seminar offered in fall or winter, where a faculty advisor guides a small group, and you need two 300-level electives first. A few students each year petition for a two-semester Honors thesis, defended orally before an outside examiner. About 75 students per class major in economics, and more than two thirds go on to further study, most often an MBA.
- Empirical Sequence
- Calculus, statistics and econometrics before upper electives
- Senior Thesis
- Thesis seminar in fall or winter, after two 300-level electives
- Honors
- Two-semester thesis with outside examiner, by petition
- Major Size
- About 75 majors per class
Program Sources: Academics, Bates EconomicsThesis, Bates Economics
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 62 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 90% 543 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $110,880 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $66,590 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $66,590 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 3
University of Maine
Economics BA
44.1 Comparison ScoreThe Economics BA at UMaine is available as a fully online degree as well as on campus, and it is designed to fit double majors. The department suggests a path: principles of micro and macro in the first year alongside statistics and math, intermediate micro and macro and Principles of Economic Data Analysis in the second, and electives throughout. Pursuing a minor or double major is encouraged to set the degree apart. The School of Economics also runs minors in renewable energy economics and policy and in resource and agribusiness management, which pair naturally with it.
- Format
- Fully online or on campus
- Second-Year Courses
- Intermediate micro and macro, Principles of Economic Data Analysis
- Pairings
- Double major or minors such as Renewable Energy Economics and Policy
Program Sources: Economics BA, UMaine School of Economics
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 16 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 55% 2,297 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $65,097 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $13,326 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $36,756 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- 4
University of Southern Maine
Economics BA
30.5 Comparison ScoreUSM lets you choose between a Liberal Arts Track and a Math Intensive Track within the economics BA, which matters if graduate school or quantitative work is on your mind. Courses teach you to use empirical evidence to test an economic argument and run statistical analysis, and they take up social justice, climate change and inequality. A high faculty-to-student ratio keeps classes personal, and a for-credit internship in a field of your choosing builds professional contacts. The program points toward careers and graduate study in economics, business administration, public policy and law.
- Tracks
- Liberal Arts Track or Math Intensive Track
- Experience
- Internship for academic credit
- Topics
- Social justice, climate change, inequality
Program Sources: Economics, University of Southern Maine
- Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded
- 11 Economics, 2023–24
- School Six-Year Graduation Rate
- 40% 917 first-time, full-time students
- Median Graduate Earnings
- $49,173 Economics bachelor’s graduates, College Scorecard
- In-State Tuition + Fees
- $12,090 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
- Out-of-State Tuition + Fees
- $29,940 Undergraduate, schoolwide, 2024–25
Economics Programs in Maine at a Glance
- Ranked Schools
- 4 2 public, 2 private
- Bachelor’s Programs
- 4 152 degrees in 2023–24
- Lowest In-State Tuition
- $12,090 Bachelor’s list, schoolwide, 2024–25
How We Rank Economics Programs in Maine
Each program gets the same comparison score it earns in our national economics model, calculated against the nationwide group that meets the numeric and directory criteria. We then order Maine’s eligible programs by that score within each degree level. We feature up to 10 programs, taking the next highest-ranked program from each degree-level list in turn. Scores are compared only within the same degree level. Bachelor’s lists weigh graduation rate (20%), published tuition (20%), graduate earnings (20%), program reputation (25%), and degrees awarded (15%). See the full ranking method.
Best Economics Schools in Maine by Goal
These picks compare only the programs featured in the lists above.
Most Economics Bachelor’s Graduates
63 economics bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24, the most of any school on this list.
Top-Scoring Public University
The highest-scoring public school on the bachelor’s list (No. 3 overall), with a comparison score of 44.1.
Compare Economics Programs in Maine by Degree Level
Bowdoin College (57.7), Bates College (56.4), and Colby College (54.9) sit well ahead of the University of Maine (44.7) and the University of Southern Maine (38) on the bachelor’s list. The private colleges also account for most of the 245 economics bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2023–24: Colby 93, Bowdoin 63, and Bates 62, against 16 in Orono and 11 in Portland. All three report these awards under the classification Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, while the two public universities report Economics, General. That is a reporting label, not a verified description of the coursework.
Price runs the other way. The private colleges charge $66,590 to $69,600 in schoolwide 2024–25 tuition and fees, while residents pay $13,326 at the University of Maine and $12,090 at the University of Southern Maine.
Economics Careers and Pay in Maine
These are BLS median annual wages for Maine and the United States from the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey. A median is the midpoint among workers in the occupation, from new hires to senior staff, so it is not a starting salary for a new graduate. The 10th–90th percentile range shows what the middle 80% of workers earn in the state.
| Occupation | Maine Median | Maine 10th–90th Percentile | U.S. Median | Maine Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economist Salary in Maine BLS: Economists | $91,480 | $69,140–$132,950 | $124,720 | 70 |
| Market Research Analyst Pay in Maine BLS: Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | $71,980 | $43,310–$127,200 | $78,760 | 2,390 |
| Survey Researcher Wages in Maine BLS: Survey Researchers | $47,330 | $35,820–$77,880 | $69,460 | 60 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Wage data does not enter the program scores.
Economics Programs in Maine: Common Questions
How Many Schools in Maine Appear in These Economics Rankings?
4 schools in Maine appear in the lists shown here (4 bachelor’s programs). A school can appear at more than one degree level. The degree counts come from federal IPEDS completions for 2023–24.
Which Economics Bachelor’s Program in Maine Has the Lowest Tuition?
University of Southern Maine lists $12,090 in annual undergraduate tuition and required fees for state residents in 2024–25, the lowest among the bachelor’s programs shown here. That is a schoolwide figure before aid, so check the program’s own costs and any fees for fieldwork or labs.
How Much Do Economists Earn in Maine?
Economists in Maine earned a median of $91,480 in May 2025, compared with $124,720 nationally, and the state employed 70 of them. Market research analysts and marketing specialists, a much larger group at 2,390 jobs, had a Maine median of $71,980. These are medians for everyone in each occupation, not starting pay for new graduates.
Which Ranked Economics Bachelor’s Program Has the Lowest Resident Tuition in Maine?
University of Southern Maine in Portland has the lowest resident tuition and required fees among the ranked economics bachelor’s programs: $12,090 for 2024–25. The nonresident figure is $29,940. Those are schoolwide undergraduate charges. Compare your aid offer and housing costs before deciding which school fits your budget.
Sources
- IPEDS C2024_A completions: first-major degrees awarded by field and level, 2023–24.
- IPEDS COST1_2024: tuition and required fees, 2024–25.
- IPEDS DRVGR2024: schoolwide graduation rates.
- Carnegie 2025 Research Activity Designations.
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state estimates.
- SocialSciences.org ranking methodology.
