Tuition and Fees

Free Tuition for Qualified Students

Qualified Maine students in grades 9–12 may earn up to 18 tuition-free credits.

All credits, regardless of course location (whether taken at a student’s high school, online or in person), count toward the 18-credit limit. This includes credits earned through Maine’s Public Universities and Maine’s Community Colleges.

Students who exceed the 18-credit limit may apply for courses as “Self-Pay” students. Students will be billed at the Early College tuition rate(s) established separately by the University of Maine System and Maine Community College System.

Students are responsible for course-specific fees and materials (e.g. lab fees, travel/housing fees, materials or supplies fees, access-code fees, etc.).

Learn more about the Aspirations Program on the Maine Department of Education website (External Site).

Frequently Asked Questions

Note: This is per Maine State Statute, not per University of Maine System policy.

Publicly funded high school students
Students who attend a high school or academy classified as a Private Schools Approved for the Receipt of Public Funds and who are not private pay tuition (taxpayer dollars pay tuition for public students to attend these schools such as Fryeburg Academy or Thornton Academy)
Home Educated students who have filed a letter of intent with their local school district and/or the Maine Department of Education
International students who are living with a host family, attending school per a Superintendent’s agreement and are not paying tuition to that school (e.g. exchange program students)

Note: This is per Maine State Statute, not per University of Maine System policy.

Students who attend private schools and pay tuition
International students who are paying tuition to a public or private high school
Any Maine student who is paying tuition to attend a public or private high school
Any out-of-state student
Homeschooled students who do not file a letter of intent with their local school district or the Maine Department of Education
Students of any age enrolled in Adult Education programs.

Maine high school students will be billed the Early College tuition rate.
The Early College tuition rate for Maine students is currently $155 per credit hour for online/in-person courses and $60 per credit hour for concurrent enrollment courses. (Rates are subject to change when tuition rates change.)
Students are responsible for course-specific materials or travel/housing fees, even if they do qualify for Aspirations funding.
Students not attending a Maine high school should contact the Early College Administrator at the university they wish to attend to learn more about costs for out-of-state students.

Native American students who have used their 18 tuition-free credits may still qualify for the University of Maine System’s Native American Waiver and Education Program.

This program waives tuition and mandatory university fees for eligible students taking credit-bearing courses during the fall and spring semesters.

Students who are citizens or descendants of federally recognized tribes, including Maine’s Wabanaki Nations, may qualify.

Learn more about eligibility requirements and the application process on the Native American Waiver and Education Program webpage (External Site).

Instructions can be found in the Paying Your Bill section on our Step-By-Step Guide for Students page.

Tuition-free Early College courses are made possible in part by ongoing support from the Maine Legislature to make college more affordable and accessible. The Maine Department of Education runs the Aspirations program and uses Aspirations funding to pay universities for part of the tuition cost. Maine’s Public Universities waive the rest of the tuition to support the state’s college access goals.

Per the University of Maine System Course Retake Policy adopted in November 2023, students who are not successful in a course must meet with the Early College Advising and Success Coordinator (ECASC) before taking additional courses. All students receiving grades of D+ and lower will receive an email from the ECASC with this information and next steps.

A student earning a D grade will be encouraged, but not required, to retake the course.
A student earning an F or L grade will be required to retake the course before taking any additional course(s). If the student is registered for any subsequent course(s) then they will be removed.
A student who earns an I grade will be required to complete that course before taking any additional course(s). Students receiving an I are not allowed to register for the same course unless the grade is converted to an F. A student receiving an I grade may not make up missed work by sitting in on the course the next time it is taught. If the student is registered for any subsequent course(s) then they will be removed. Students with I grades will not be able to take additional courses until they have completed their course with a D- or better.

The Department of Education Aspirations program will pay for the student to retake a course if they earn a W, D, F or L grade (one time per course) as long as the student has not exceeded their 18 tuition-free credits.

This requirement only applies while students are enrolled in high school.

Learn more on our Grades & Course Retake Policy page.

Future Financial Aid Considerations

All colleges must follow federal financial aid regulations, and many students in Maine rely on federal grants and/or loans to help pay for college. While most Early College participation does not negatively impact financial aid eligibility, students and families should be aware of the following:

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP): Grades matter. Failing or withdrawing from multiple courses may affect future financial aid eligibility, particularly if a student enrolls at the same institution where those grades were earned. Learn more about SAP on the Federal Student Aid website (External Site).
Course selection: Taking courses that do not apply to a future degree program may limit financial aid eligibility.
Full-time enrollment: Completing a high number of general education courses during Early College may make it more difficult to maintain full-time enrollment status after high school, which can impact financial aid eligibility.

For additional help or information please contact your University’s Early College Administrator.