The Maine State Nurses Association encourages nurses to obtain a Bachelor’s degree, which has resulted from an influx of nurses seeking out their BSNs. It is predicted that the nursing workforce will increase by 26% by the year 2020. This will create many new job opportunities within the state. When this information is analyzed, there is no reason why nurses shouldn’t seek out higher education. It is only logical in that it puts you in a great position. Researching nursing schools and the best program possible can be overwhelming. Nursing students want to make sure they find the best school possible. Fear not! A lot of schools offer distance and online learning that makes attending school more feasible for a busy nurse.
In our Maine RN program guide, find rankings for both ADN and BSN Degree programs, tuition costs, NCLEX passing rates, and more. Research key Maine RN Program information to help you compare program metrics and to apply to best RN program for your career in nursing.
In the State of Maine, nurses are helping to change the face of healthcare. To ensure that they have the best education and preparation for future health care challenges, registered nurses need to graduate from a state-approved associate's degree in nursing program or a BSN degree program.
Nurses who graduate from an RN program can obtain certification in over 100 nursing specialties, go on to earn an RN to BSN or RN to MSN degree.
BSN degree holders have options to earn an Advance Practice Register Nursing (APRN) degree and become a Nurse Practitioner (NP), or earn an advanced degree for a career in any number of nursing leadership roles such Nurse Educator or Clinical Nurse Specialist.
Maine RN Program Comparisons: ADN vs BSN
| Compare RN Programs | ADN | BSN |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Nursing Programs | 7 | 5 |
| Average NCLEX Passing Rate | 83.49% | 86.35% |
| NCLEX Passing Rate Range | 37.50% to 94.24% | 83.34% to 89.50% |
| Average Net Price | $9,712.57 | $21,811.80 |
| Average Net Price Range | $7,924.00 to $12,126.00 | $16,255.00 to $30,174.00 |
| Average Student Loan | $9,732.43 | $20,594.20 |
| Average Student Loan Range | $7,500.00 to $14,826.00 | $17,240.00 to $25,000.00 |
| See Additional Detail | ADN Rankings for Maine State | BSN Rankings for Maine State |
Best Ranked RN Programs in Maine
To help nursing students in their search for a top RN program, the education experts at RNCareers.org publish their annual findings of the best nursing schools for both Maine and the country. Schools ranked on our list have proven their ability to educate highly competent nurses.
To create our rankings, we evaluated 7 ADN degree programs and 5 BSN degree programs in Maine. We obtained each institution’s first-time NCLEX-RN passing rates, the number of students taking the test, the program nursing accreditation and more. We then compared the results against other nursing programs in Maine to provide our state rankings. View our methodology.
Grade | Degree | University | ME Rank | US Rank | City | Type: | Offered As: | Accreditor(s): | More: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97.76 | ADN | Eastern Maine Community College | 1 | 45 | Bangor | Eastern Maine Community College is located in Bangor, Maine. EMCC calls their ADN program a “Multiple Entry Nursing Program” as it allows students to enter the program at various times based on their education level. For example, a new student would enter the program at the beginning. An LPN would enter the program later based on the fact that they already have nursing experience. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 97.28 | ADN | Kennebec Valley Community College | 2 | 58 | Fairfield | Kennebec Valley Community College is located in Fairfield, Maine. They offer an ADN program and an LPN to ADN program. KVCC has over 2,500 students currently enrolled in classes. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 93.86 | ADN | Southern Maine Community College | 3 | 204 | South Portland | Southern Maine Community College is located in South Portland, Maine. They offer an ASN and an ASN – LPN Upgrade Option. The LPN Upgrade Option allows the LPN to become an RN. SMCC is proud to offer over 45 degrees to over 7,000 students. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 91.53 | ADN | Central Maine Community College | 4 | 300 | Auburn | Central Maine Community College is located in Auburn, Maine. They offer an ADN program. LPNs can gain entrance into their program; they enter the same program but may be able to skip a few courses. CMCC currently has about 3,000 students and graduates about 300 students each year. | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | |
| 91.36 | ADN | Northern Maine Community College | 5 | 311 | Presque Isle | Public | Campus | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 84.17 | ADN | Maine College of Health Professions (CMMC) | 6 | 548 | Lewiston | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN | See School Details | ||
| 97.65 | BSN | Saint Joseph's College of Maine | 1 | 47 | Standish | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Online | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 95.65 | BSN | University of New England | 2 | 118 | Biddeford | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus | See School Details | |||
| 93.43 | BSN | University of Maine at Orono | 3 | 217 | Orono | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 86.86 | BSN | University of Southern Maine | 4 | 410 | Portland | Public | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details | ||
| 85.19 | BSN | Husson University | 5 | 440 | Bangor | Private Not-For-Profit | Campus, Hybrid | ACEN, ACME, CCNE, COA | See School Details |
Become an Advance Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) in Maine
RNs who wish to become advanced practice registered nurses will want to pursue any number of avenues to earn Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing consists of graduate-level coursework and clinical practice for those nurses who wish to direct patient roles such as a nurse practitioner. You can also pursue indirect patient roles such as teaching or leadership roles, or become involved in policy, state-wide health initiatives or community engagement. There are many clinical and non-clinical avenues that an RN with MSN can pursue.Become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in Maine
Learn how to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) and research schools in Maine offering the following high paying nurse practitioner specialties:- Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
- Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)
- Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP)
Maine RN Licensing Requirements
Maine State Board of Nursing 161 Capitol Street 158 State House Station Augusta, ME 04333 Phone: (207) 287-1133 Web Site: https://www.maine.gov/boardofnursing/ Fees: Initial licensing fee, RN: $75 License renewal, RN (every two years): $75 Continuing Education Requirements: None Nursing licensure in Maine is strict but there are a few ways to obtain it. Licensure can be obtained by exam, endorsement, and, sometimes, through an education completed in a foreign country.RN Licensure by Exam
The candidate will be required to submit an application to the Board along with a $75 fee before applying to take the exam. The application must be notarized and have a passport-type photo included. There is a $200 fee that will be paid when candidates apply for the NCLEX through Pearson VUE. Scheduling the exam can only occur after the candidate has received an Authorization to Test.RN Licensure by Endorsement
RNs who have obtained licensure in one of the other 50 states are able to apply for licensure by endorsement. In order to complete this, candidates must submit the following:- License verification
- Evidence, such as transcripts, proving that a two-year program in nursing was completed
- $75 application non-refundable fee
- NCLEX will be require if the candidate had not passed it already
RN License for Nurses Educated Abroad
The following does not apply to nurses who were trained in Canada. International nurses must complete additional requirements. First, they will need to pass an exam conducted by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools. Second, transcripts should be submitted in English.RN Salaries in Maine
According to a National Nursing Database, reported that Maine currently has approximately 22,560 registered nurses holding active licenses. The Maine Board periodically publishes NCLEX passing rates organized by each school. There are many professional organizations that nurses in Maine will want to know about. The main organization is Maine State Nurses Association. It provides continuing education and other professional resources for nurses.Maine Registered Nursing Salaries
Southwest Maine has the largest amount of registered nurses employed in comparison to any of the other areas in Maine. However, it does not have the highest annual median wage. The Portland metropolitan area has both the highest hourly mean wage salary and annual median wage.| Area name | Employment | Hourly median wage | Annual median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 2,120 | $30.82 | $64,100 |
| Lewiston-Auburn, ME | 1,470 | $29.81 | $62,000 |
| Portland-South Portland-Biddeford, ME | 4,450 | $31.00 | $64,490 |
| Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | 1,650 | $27.49 | $57,180 |
| Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | 4,690 | $29.29 | $60,920 |