UNE recognized for graduates' high earning potential

University of New England aerial campus photo in Biddeford

Photo / Courtesy of the University of New England The University of New England, whose Biddeford campus is shown here, has been recognized among New England's top institutions for student earning potential.

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By Renee Cordes

Graduates of the University of New England in Biddeford and Portland can expect to earn nearly $20,000 more annually in the eight years after starting their degrees than their regional peers who didn't attend college.

That was among the findings by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the American Council on Education, in their 2025 Student Access and Earnings Classification report.

The new classification — developed to evaluate how effectively colleges create pathways to economic mobility — places UNE in the “lower access, higher earnings” category.

While the Carnegie classifications date back to 1973, the methodology was updated this year to better reflect the increased diversity of institutions and the learners they serve.

UNE said this year's accolade reflects its strong record of preparing graduates for well-paying careers while acknowledging opportunities for expanding access to underserved student populations.

“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,” said James Herbert, the school’s president and a 2025 Mainebiz Business Leader of the Year honoree.

“This classification affirms the value of a UNE degree in the marketplace as well as the impact of our graduates across Maine, New England and beyond," Herbert added.

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

Every year, around 30% of incoming UNE undergraduates are first in their families to attend college.

In November, the school announce plans to start covering tuition costs for high-achieving students whose families earn less than $100,000 as part of its efforts to attract top talent to New England.