Educational Attainment
About 94.2% of Maine adults hold a high school diploma and 33.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, close to national norms.
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
2006–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year (FRED GCT1502ME).
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher (%) | 33.1 | 35 |
- •Maine's high school graduation completion rate ranks among the top third of U.S. states.
Schools
Maine had approximately 590 public schools serving students across its 16 counties in the 2023-2024 school year.
Public schools reporting teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Public school enrollment (K-12)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Avg. School Size (students) | 280 | 530 |
- •Many Maine schools serve fewer than 200 students due to the state's rural population distribution.
Universities
Maine is home to the University of Maine System's 7 public campuses plus private institutions like Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby colleges.
College and graduate school students
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, undergraduate + graduate/professional, B14001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Public University Campuses | 7 | 50 |
- •Bowdoin, Bates, and Colby are known collectively as Maine's 'Little Ivies.'
Graduation Rates
Maine's public high school graduation rate reached 87.5% in the 2022-2023 school year, slightly above the national average.
Adults 25+ with a high school diploma or higher
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B15003 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| High School Graduation Rate (%) | 87.5 | 87 |
- •Maine's graduation rate has increased by over 5 percentage points since 2013.
Student Enrollment
Maine's public K-12 enrollment was approximately 165,000 students in the 2023-2024 school year, one of the smallest state enrollments nationally.
People enrolled in school (age 3+)
2008–2024Census American Community Survey 1-year estimates, B14001 (2020 not released).
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| K-12 Enrollment (millions) | 0.165 | 49.4 |
- •Several rural Maine school districts have seen enrollment decline by double digits over the past decade.
Student-Teacher Ratios
Maine's public school student-teacher ratio was about 11.5 to 1 in 2023, better than the national average.
Students per full-time teacher (public schools)
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
Full-time-equivalent public school teachers
1986–2024NCES Common Core of Data, public schools (school year starting in the year shown), via Urban Institute Education Data API.
| Indicator | Maine | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Student-Teacher Ratio | 11.5 | 15.4 |
- •Maine's student-teacher ratio ranks among the lowest (most favorable) in the country.