FARMINGTON — The University of Maine at Farmington has been named a “Best Value” College by the 2025 U.S. News & World Report College Rankings for its academic quality and affordability.
The annual national college rankings named UMF No. 8 Best Value and No. 5 Top Performers on Social Mobility, placing it in the top 10 Regional Colleges in the North. In addition, this year’s rankings named UMF No. 11 Top Public School and No. 15 Top Regional College (North).
To be eligible as a Best Value School, schools needed to be ranked in the top half of their U.S. News overall 2025 Best Colleges ranking category to ensure they were strong academically. In addition to the strength of academic quality, value was determined by factors such as cost, the percentage of all full-time undergraduates receiving need-based scholarships or grants, and the percentage of the total cost that was covered by the average need-based award.
UMF’s continual high ranking in social mobility is an indication of Farmington’s success at helping economically disadvantaged students who receive federal Pell Grants achieve a college degree and their career goals. This significant educational achievement of students shows the impact of access to a quality and affordable education with a life changing return on investment.
“Farmington provides students with top notch preparation for professional careers at an affordable price. We are recognized as offering great value because of our close student/faculty interaction, our experiential learning, global experiences, high-level research opportunities, and a rich campus life that characterize the Farmington experience. The U.S. News rankings are a much-appreciated affirmation of the value that UMF offers to our undergraduate, graduate and part-time students,” said Joseph McDonnell, UMF president.
According to the U.S. News methodology, the top-ranked schools provided ample classroom resources for students and faculty; conferred bachelor’s degrees at high rates; and produced graduates who entered the workforce with manageable debt and worthwhile starting salaries.
U.S. News ranked nearly 1,500 U.S. four-year bachelor’s degree-granting institutions, grouped within 10 distinct overall rankings where colleges and universities were compared with schools that shared their academic mission. Like National Universities, Regional Universities and Colleges offer a full range of undergraduate programs and provide graduate education at the master’s level with few if any doctoral programs. They are ranked in four geographical regions: North, South, Midwest and West.
