Licensure
Maine's Top Nursing Schools & Accredited Online Programs
Maine has historically charged lower in-state and out-of-state tuition than any other New England state, so your dollar goes further here than across most of …
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Maine has historically charged lower in-state and out-of-state tuition than any other New England state, so your dollar goes further here than across most of the region. Pick the credential that fits your goal: an ADN gets you to the bedside fastest, but a BSN or MSN pays off if you plan to become a nurse practitioner later. Licensure rules vary by state, so confirm Maine's before you enroll anywhere.
Accredited Nursing Schools in Maine
The University of New England's bachelor of science in nursing has posted NCLEX pass rates above the national average since 2013. The program runs across UNE's Biddeford and Portland campuses. Coursework covers nurse leadership, mental health nursing, and medical-surgical nursing.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Biddeford and Portland, Maine
- Type: Private
- Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $39,510 per year
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate
- Minimum Time Commitment: Four years
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91.8% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $63,810 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard
Kennebec Valley Community College offers an associate degree in nursing that prepares students for entry-level jobs. Coursework covers nursing across the lifespan, the transition into ADN practice, and foundations of nursing, building the conceptual skills for acute, long-term, and community care.
- Program: Associate of science degree in nursing
- Campus: Fairfield, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $96 per credit for Maine residents; $192 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate
- Minimum Time Commitment: Two years
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.4% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $54,250 for associate graduates, per College Scorecard
Central Maine Community College offers a 68-credit associate degree in nursing at its Auburn or Damariscotta locations. Coursework covers foundations of nursing, nursing across the lifespan, and introductory psychology. Graduates are ready to work in hospitals, extended care facilities, clinics, psychiatric facilities, and substance misuse facilities.
- Program: Associate of science degree in nursing
- Campus: Auburn and Damariscotta, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $2,880 per year for Maine residents; $4,320 per year for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate
- Minimum Time Commitment: Two years
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 91.7% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $50,020 for associate graduates, per College Scorecard
University of Southern Maine offers a 120-credit bachelor's built for working students. The program runs on a cohort model. Coursework covers an intermediate nursing skills lab, clinically applied genetics, and nursing arts and science.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Portland, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $288 per credit hour for Maine residents; $788 per credit hour for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate; minimum 3.25 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 15 months
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 85.8% first-time pass rate
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $57,420 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard
Eastern Maine Community College offers a 70-credit associate degree known for small class sizes, strong NCLEX pass rates, and low cost. Most students finish in two years. Coursework covers developmental psychology, foundations of nursing, and professional issues.
- Program: Associate degree in nursing
- Campus: Bangor, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
- Tuition: $96 per credit for Maine residents; $192 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate
- Minimum Time Commitment: One year
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 93.9% first-time pass rate
University of Maine offers a master's family nurse practitioner program built for working students. The 49-51 credit program blends online and in-person coursework covering nursing research, advanced health assessment, and families in health and illness.
- Program: Master of science in nursing, family nurse practitioner
- Campus: Orono, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
- Tuition: $541 per credit for Maine residents; $1,623 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: Bachelor's in nursing; registered nurse license; minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: 2.5 years
- On-Campus Requirements: No
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: 97.3% first-time pass rate
University of Maine at Augusta offers a 120-credit bachelor's requiring full-time enrollment, blending online and classroom learning. Coursework covers caring for aging adults, nursing research, and pharmacology. The school provides clinical placement assistance through community partners and its own nursing resources laboratory.
- Program: Bachelor of science in nursing
- Campus: Augusta, Maine
- Type: Public
- Accreditations: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing; New England Commission on Higher Education
- Tuition: $245 per credit for Maine residents; $607 per credit for out-of-state students
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or GED certificate; minimum 3.0 GPA
- Minimum Time Commitment: Four years
- On-Campus Requirements: Yes
- School NCLEX-RN Pass Rate: N/A
- Median Earnings Two Years After Graduation: $53,360 for bachelor's graduates, per College Scorecard
How to Choose a Nursing Program in Maine
Maine has relatively few nursing schools, but you still have real options. Weigh these factors:
- Cost, including tuition and financial aid
- NCLEX-RN pass rate, a proxy for how well a school prepares students
- Clinical placement and assistance
- Curriculum
- Program size
- Logistics of attending
Stick to accredited programs. Unaccredited ones may be faster or cheaper, but the credits or degree may not count toward employment or transfer to an accredited school. Every program in this guide is accredited.
Why Become a Nurse in Maine
Maine belongs to the Nurse Licensure Compact, so a Maine nursing license can be issued as a multistate license valid in any of the 41 NLC states. You must be a Maine resident to hold the multistate license.
Maine also runs a loan repayment program for nursing faculty, which helps the state staff its nursing schools more reliably than most.
The state's NCLEX-RN pass rate was 92.3% in 2019, above the national 88.2%.
Salary and Job Outlook for Nurses in Maine
The cost of living in Maine runs above the national average, with a 115 cost-of-living index against a national baseline of 100. The average RN salary is $71,040 versus $80,010 nationally, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The gap narrows for NPs: $111,580 in Maine against $114,510 nationally.
RN jobs in Maine are projected to grow 6.5% between 2018 and 2028, and NP jobs 20.6%.
Highest-paying metro areas for RNs in Maine:
| Metropolitan Area | Average RN Salary |
|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | $76,650 |
| Portland, South Portland, ME | $72,360 |
| Lewiston, Auburn, ME | $67,760 |
Source: BLS
Steps to Becoming a Nurse in Maine
Becoming an RN takes a nursing degree, a passing NCLEX score, and a criminal background check. Maine accepts license applications online only; the board does not take paper applications.
RN Requirements
Graduate from an ADN or BSN program, pass the NCLEX-RN, and clear a criminal background check. To transfer between nursing programs, you must complete at least one year at the school you are leaving.
The application fee is $75. You also pay $52 for the background check and $200 for the NCLEX-RN. Renew every two years with at least 75 continuing education credits.
APRN Requirements
To become an advanced practice registered nurse, graduate from an MSN or DNP program, pass the applicable board certification, and hold an active RN license. The application fee is $100, plus a $30 RN license verification fee. Submit proof of board certification and an official transcript.
New APRNs also need two years of supervision under a physician or NP, plus recent pharmacology credits to apply for prescriptive authority.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nursing in Maine
Maine has faced a nursing shortage since before COVID-19. A 2017 Maine Department of Labor study projected a shortfall of 3,200 nurses by 2025 and named nursing the state's most in-demand profession.
An ADN takes at least two years. A BSN typically takes four but is the more versatile degree for advancement.
Applicants usually get a temporary license within two weeks of a complete application and a full license within 90 days.
Because Maine is an NLC state, Maine residents who graduate from an in-state program can apply for a multistate license. Nurses from other NLC states can practice in Maine once they verify their license through Nursys.