Best Community Colleges in Maine of 2023

Washington County Community College is a public community college in Calais, Washington County. Situated on a hillside overlooking the St. Croix River Valley, WCCC is home to a beautiful 400-acre campus and is part of the Maine Community College System. The campus is surrounded by the outdoors, with hundreds of miles of trails to explore, so it’s a good fit for you if you want to balance your studies with fresh air and hikes. WCCC is known for providing a close-knit learning community with programs all across the liberal arts, technical, and career spectrum. You can study anything from Heavy Equipment Maintenance to Entrepreneurship or Outdoor Leadership.

Like Washington County Community College, Kennebec Valley Community College is a part of the Maine Community College System. With locations in Fairfield and Hinckley, KVCC offers 27 associate degrees in Allied Health, Nursing, and other technical programs, and 20 one-year certificate/diploma programs. KVCC’s tuition is $96 per credit; by contrast, at a private four-year institution, you can expect to pay on average $1,365 per credit. KVCC thus offers an enormous bargain. Over 75% of KVCC students received some form of financial aid, and 60% of students received a federal grant or loan. KVCC also offers scholarships to make the cost of your education even more affordable.

Central Maine Community College is situated in Auburn, Maine, and is part of the Maine Community College System. CMCC stands out from other community colleges not just for its affordable tuition, which is one of the lowest in New England, but also for its vibrant campus life. Whether you live on campus or commute from home, CMCC offers many ways for you to forge relationships and get involved in everything from student clubs, athletics, and volunteering. By living on campus, you can get the total college experience and potentially make lifelong friendships by participating in activities like dodgeball, bingo, and movie nights and by dining on campus with your classmates and dorm-mates. Whatever your unique interests, you will likely find a CMCC student club or organization run by like-minded peers.

Located in Presque Isle, Maine, Northern Maine Community College is another member of the Maine Community College System. The 87-acre campus is located on the grounds of the former Presque Isle Air Force Base. If you’re local to northern Maine, you can take advantage of one of NMCC’s 30+ degree and certificate programs that are designed to be future-proof and equip you with the cutting-edge skills you need to enter the workforce of today and tomorrow. More than 90% of NMCC graduates go on to further study or find a job related to their degree or certificate within six months of completing their program.

Eastern Maine Community College, located on a beautiful 72-acre campus in Bangor, Maine, is another institution in the Maine Community College System. If you can’t make it to Bangor for a visit, EMCC’s website offers virtual tours and interactive maps of its pristine, striking campus. Whether you want to study a health-related field, public safety, STEM, liberal arts, or anything in between, EMCC likely has a program for you. You can choose from one- and two-year program options (associate degrees and certificates), as well as short-term and specialized training and retraining courses for business, industry, and community. Whatever your program, you will learn EMCC’s signature values: communication, teamwork, independent learning, and problem-solving.

Also part of the Maine Community College System, Southern Maine Community College is located in South Portland, Maine, and is home to the lovely Shoreway Arboretum, which runs along the shoreline of Willard Beach and contains many species of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs. SMCC has particularly strong career services: career counselors can help you with all aspects of the career search and job application process, including goal-setting, assessments, resumes, cover letters, mock interviews, internships, building job skills, networking, and more. SMCC also offers strong workforce training and career skills seminars, classes, and workshops that can be completed quickly and lead to new job opportunities and/or increased earning potential.

Located in Wells, Maine, York County Community College is also part of the Maine Community College System. Wells is known as “the friendliest town in Maine,” and YCCC’s campus is a short walk from the beach with easy access to coastal town businesses and fantastic restaurants. YCCC’s on-campus housing is particularly unique: you get to rent a furnished room from the local Hampton Inn & Suites, with benefits such as weekly housekeeping and pool and fitness center access. With more than 50 academic programs across all disciplines and fields, YCCC no doubt has an associate degree or certificate program that suits your education and/or career goals.

It’s no surprise that Maine College of Health Professionals specializes in health care–related degree and certificate programs. Located in Lewiston, Maine, MCHP is a private college affiliated with Central Maine Medical Center. Academic programs include certificates in Computed Tomography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, and Mammography, and associate degree programs in fields like Nursing and Health Sciences. MCHP also offers bachelor’s degree programs — and even a Master of Arts option. If you’re looking for a school in Maine that devotes all of its resources and expertise toward health-related degree and certificate programs, MCHP is an obvious choice. You’ll benefit from a close-knit learning space and immersion in a health care environment.

The Landing School of Boat Building and Design is one of Maine’s most unique and niche community colleges. It is a private college located in Arundel, Maine, and is home to just 48 undergraduate students. The Landing School is the only school in the world offering accredited programs in Yacht Design, Wooden Boat Building, Composite Boat Building, and Marine Systems under one roof. If you are interested in anything related to boat building and design, you won’t find a more tailor-made school for you than The Landing School. In addition to hands-on, experiential learning, The Landing School is committed to growing women’s representation in marine industries through its Women in the Marine Industry Initiative, which aims to recruit and support future women leaders in the marine industry.