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Auburn, MEPhoto: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Auburn

Auburn is home to Central Maine Community College

Central Maine Community College (2,927 students on campus) is inside the city, and Bates College (1,753) is 2.7 miles from the center, just over the line in Lewiston. About 6% of Auburn’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maine (6%).

Bates CollegeCentral Maine Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Auburn. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
5,047 students on campus
Nearest college
1.9 mi
Maine College of Health Professions
Residents in college
6%
About the same as ME (6%)
Nearest community college
3.5 mi
Central Maine · $4,140 tuition
Nearest public university
29.2 mi
University of Southern Maine · $11,284 in-state
Median household income
$67K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Auburn

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3.5 milesBates College admits 13% of applicants. Together they have 4,680 students on campus.A community college 3.5 miles awayCentral Maine Community College in Auburn: tuition and fees $4,140 a year for Maine residents.In-state price at University of Southern MaineLiving in Maine, the University of Southern Maine charges $11,284 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $27,944. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Maine (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Auburn

Three private colleges within 12.4 miles, and Central Maine Community College 3.5 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of Southern Maine, is 29.2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miCentral MaineBates CollegeMaine College of Health ProfessionsAuburn
University or collegeCommunity college
Maine College of Health ProfessionsUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 193 on campus · 1.9 mi · Lewiston71%admitted$26knet price67%graduate$80kearningsBates CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,753 on campus · 2.7 mi · Lewiston13%admitted$29knet price90%graduate$69kearningsCentral Maine Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,927 on campus · In Auburn$7knet price30%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,140 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Unity Environmental UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 174 on campus · 12.4 mi · New Gloucester · mostly online$19knet price29%graduate$38kearnings97% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Auburn’s median household income ($66,647) falls.

Central Maine Community CollegeIn Auburn · sticker $15,063 · tuition $4,140$8,105a year
Bates College2.7 mi · Lewiston · sticker $83,532$11,336a year
University of Southern Maine29.2 mi · Portland · sticker $23,717$12,550a year
Unity Environmental University12.4 mi · New Gloucester · mostly online · sticker $21,931$20,079a year
Maine College of Health Professions1.9 mi · Lewiston · sticker $26,827—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Maine College of Health ProfessionsBates CollegeCentral MaineUnity Environmental UniversityUniversity of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine40% graduate$50k earnings$19k typical debt
Central Maine Community College30% graduate$42k earnings$12k typical debt
Bates College90% graduate$69k earnings$14k typical debt
Maine College of Health Professions67% graduate$80k earnings$15k typical debt
Unity Environmental University29% graduate$38k earnings$25k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Auburn

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Central Maine Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 20%Liberal arts 18%Health professions 10%Construction trades 8%Public safety 7%Engineering tech 6%Everything else 31%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations59 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities52 graduates a year
$40k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing33 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Human Services, General27 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections22 graduates a year
$56k4 yrs out
Electromechanical Technologies/Technicians21 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management16 graduates a year
$53k4 yrs out
Precision Metal Working12 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Auburn

Is Auburn a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Auburn residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maine (6). The largest campus in the city, Central Maine Community College, has 2,927 students on campus.

What colleges are in Auburn?

Central Maine Community College is inside the city. Bates College is 2.7 miles from the center, in Lewiston.

What is the closest community college to Auburn, and what does it cost?

Central Maine Community College in Auburn, 3.5 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,140 a year for Maine residents; the federal net price, $6,975, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Southern Maine cost if we live in Maine?

Tuition and fees are $11,284 a year in-state and $27,944 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,999 (under $30,000 income) to $19,180 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Auburn. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →