Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0The University of Maine is 11.8 miles from Clifton
No college sits inside Clifton’s boundary, but the University of Maine’s campus in Orono, with 9,096 students on campus, is 11.8 miles from the center of town, and Eastern Maine Community College is 13.2 miles away in Bangor. About 9% of Clifton’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maine (6%).
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 Clifton. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Clifton
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Clifton
One private college within 15 miles, one public college within 11.8 miles, and Eastern Maine Community College 13.2 miles away.
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 would your family pay?
The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.
Starts at $48–75k, where Clifton’s median household income ($70,313) falls.
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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Clifton: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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.
Questions about college near Clifton
Is Clifton a college town?
No. About 9 of every 100 Clifton residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Maine (6). The nearest campus, the University of Maine, is 11.8 miles away in Orono.
What colleges are near Clifton?
Within 15 miles: the University of Maine (11.8 miles, 9,096 students on campus), Eastern Maine Community College (13.2 miles, 1,955) and Beal University (15 miles, 226).
What is the closest community college to Clifton, and what does it cost?
Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor, 13.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,156 a year for Maine residents; the federal net price, $8,928, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does the University of Maine cost if we live in Maine?
Tuition and fees are $13,326 a year in-state and $36,756 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $12,642 (under $30,000 income) to $22,018 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Clifton. 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 →