W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 9 J U N E 2 4 , 2 0 2 4
F O C U S H I G H E R E D U C A T I O N / P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T
MAINE'S TOP COLLEGE
FOR INCREASING
CAREER EARNINGS IS IN
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
Colleges and universities face a battle with the overall
number of students declining. After steady increases
from 1970 to 2010, enrollment nationally has dipped.
In Maine, enrollment is down 3.55% since 2010,
according to the Education Data Initiative.
S O U R C E : Education Data Initiative S O U R C E : Education Data Initiative
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT IN MAINE
ENROLLMENT TREND OVER 75 YEARS
69,838 students are
enrolled in Maine
colleges.
Between 1970 and
2010, enrollment
increased 112.1%.
Enrollment in Maine
has declined by
3.55% since 2010.
55.5% of full-time
students in Maine
are female.
67.4% of students
enrolled in Maine
post-secondary
institutions attend
public schools.
Among all Maine
residents enrolled
in college, 28.3%
leave the state to
attend school.
After peaking around 2010, the number of students enrolled in colleges and
universities has been on a steady decline.
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
10M
50%
5M
25%
0
0%
15M
75%
20M
25M
100%
TOTAL ENROLLMENT
PERCENT PUBLIC INSTITUTION ENROLLMENT