What You Should Know About Graduating From College in Maine
To maximize your future earning potential, you should consider future careers when choosing a college and major. In October 2020, the largest five industries for employment in Maine were education and health services; trade, transportation, and utilities; government; goods-producing services; and retail trade.
For college-educated professionals, the five fastest growing careers in Maine are physician assistants, statisticians, nurse practitioners, information security analysts, and respiratory therapists. Selecting a degree related to any of these fields can lead to a promising career trajectory.
Some of the largest employers in Maine are the Pen Bay Medical Center, Hall Erica PA, IAMAW, and Mid Coast Group Physician. There are many other companies and organizations in Maine that employ thousands of people, and many of these employers are looking for college graduates who have degrees relevant to those fastest growing careers.
What’s Next?
When researching different colleges in Maine, investigate what financial aid you qualify for. Here are some of the state and federal resources that you can use to explore grant, scholarship, and financial aid options for undergraduate Maine students.
- Financial Authority of Maine (FAME). FAME provides information on in-state college tuition along with scholarship and loan opportunities that are available to Maine residents.
- Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The U.S. Department of Education provides more than $120 billion in financial aid every year. These funds provide students with grants, scholarships, work-study positions, and loans. Find out if you’re eligible via the FAFSA4caster, and apply through the FAFSA online form if you are eligible.
- CareerOneStop. This organization offers extensive information on grants and scholarships that are available in each state. The site is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the information is easily sortable according to amounts, qualifications, deadlines, and other filters.