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The �Թϱ��� has been recognized among New England’s top institutions for student earning potential in the just-released 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education (ACE).

This new classification — developed to evaluate how effectively colleges create pathways to economic mobility — places �Թϱ��� in the “Lower Access, Higher Earnings” category, reflecting the University’s strong record of preparing graduates for well-paying careers while acknowledging opportunities for expanding access to underserved student populations. 

According to the Carnegie Foundation, graduates of Maine’s largest independent university can expect to earn nearly $20,000 more annually in the eight years after starting their degrees than peers in their region who did not attend college. 

“This recognition by the Carnegie Foundation underscores our core mission: to empower students to transform their lives and, in doing so, improve the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve,” remarked �Թϱ��� President James Herbert. “This classification affirms the value of a �Թϱ��� degree in the marketplace as well as the impact of our graduates across Maine, New England, and beyond.”

The Carnegie Foundation’s new framework emphasizes two key indicators: access, or how closely an institution’s student body reflects the demographic and socioeconomic makeup of its region, and earnings, examining how well graduates perform economically compared to peers in their geographic area who have not earned a college degree.

The excellence of a �Թϱ��� education has been recognized by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and many others, translating learning outcomes into renowned professional success for graduates, including post-graduation earnings. 

According to the Brookings Institution, �Թϱ��� ranks No. 1 in Maine for increasing career earnings, and Zippia lists it as the top college in Maine for job placement. Additionally, based on student survey data, 95% of �Թϱ��� undergraduates are employed or pursuing further education within one year of graduation.

At UNE … we are committed to graduating students who are ready, from day one, to contribute to and make a difference in New England’s workforce and ensure the long-term economic vitality of our region.” — �Թϱ��� President James Herbert

�Թϱ��� continues to expand its educational access to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Roughly 30% of incoming �Թϱ��� undergraduates each year are the first in their families to attend college, reflecting the institution’s commitment to welcoming, supporting, and advancing students from diverse backgrounds.

The University also announced in November that it would begin  as part of its efforts to attract top talent to New England.

The Tuition-Free Program (TFP) at UNE, available to students from all states across the country, further highlights the University’s strong financial commitment to its students: 100% of first-time, full-time undergraduate students at UNE receive some form of financial assistance, including grants, scholarships, and loans.

“At UNE, we invest in our students to position them for lasting success following graduation,” said Herbert, who is a first-generation student himself. “From admission to graduation — through paid internships, on-campus mentoring, and strong financial support — we are committed to graduating students who are ready, from day one, to contribute to and make a difference in New England’s workforce and ensure the long-term economic vitality of our region.”

The 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification draws on detailed enrollment and earnings data contextualized by geography and demographics. The classification is part of a broader effort by the Carnegie Foundation and ACE to make higher education more transparent and accountable in advancing student success. 

The Carnegie Foundation also recently reaffirmed �Թϱ���’s designation as a Research-2 (R2) university — just one of 139 such “high research activity” institutions across the U.S. — reinforcing the University’s leadership in scientific advancement and cementing its status as one of New England’s top research universities.