Editing Maine (section)

==Education==

{{Further| List of colleges and universities in Maine|Education in Maine|List of high schools in Maine|List of school districts in Maine}}
[[File:UMaine StevensHall.jpg|thumb|The [[University of Maine]] is the state's only research university.]]
There are thirty institutions of [[Higher education|higher learning]] in Maine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://carnegieclassifications.iu.edu/classification_descriptions/basic.php|title=Carnegie Classifications {{!}} Basic Classification|website=carnegieclassifications.iu.edu|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref> These institutions include the [[University of Maine]], which is the oldest, largest and only [[University|research university]] in the state. UMaine was founded in 1865 and is the state's only [[land grant]] and [[sea grant]] college. The University of Maine is located in the town of [[Orono, Maine|Orono]] and is the flagship of Maine. There are also branch campuses in [[University of Maine at Augusta|Augusta]], [[University of Maine at Farmington|Farmington]], [[University of Maine at Fort Kent|Fort Kent]], [[University of Maine at Machias|Machias]], and [[University of Maine at Presque Isle|Presque Isle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://umaine.edu/about/|title=About UMaine|publisher=Umaine.edu|access-date=July 18, 2016}}</ref>[[File:Bowdoin_College_Chapel_-_Bowdoin_College_-_IMG_7793.JPG|thumb|[[Colby College|Colby]], [[Bates College|Bates]], and [[Bowdoin College|Bowdoin]] (pictured) Colleges form the [[Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium]]]]
[[Bowdoin College]] is a liberal arts college founded in 1794 in Brunswick, making it the oldest institution of higher learning in the state. [[Colby College]] in Waterville was founded in 1813 making it the second oldest college in Maine.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=https://www.colby.edu/about/|access-date=August 19, 2016|website=colby.edu}}</ref> [[Bates College]] in Lewiston was founded in 1855 making it the third oldest institution in the state and the oldest [[Mixed-sex education|coeducational]] college in New England.<ref name=":31">{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/colleges/bates-college/|title=Bates College|website=Forbes|access-date=June 16, 2016|quote=[Bates College] was the first coeducational college in New England.}}</ref> The three colleges collectively form the [[Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Consortium]] and are ranked among the best colleges in the United States; often placing in the top 10% of all liberal arts colleges.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges?int=a73d09|title=National Liberal Arts College Rankings {{!}} Top Liberal Arts Colleges {{!}} US News Best Colleges|website=colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com|access-date=August 12, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012042527/http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-liberal-arts-colleges?int=a73d09|archive-date=October 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://washingtonmonthly.com/college-guide/college-guide-rankings-2015-liberal-arts/|title=College Guide Rankings 2015—Liberal Arts Colleges|website=Washington Monthly|date=May 26, 2016|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/top-colleges/list/|title=America's Top Colleges|website=[[Forbes]]|access-date=August 12, 2016}}</ref>

Maine's per-student public expenditure for elementary and secondary schools was 21st in the nation in 2012, at $12,344.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/01/29/how-states-are-spending-money-in-education|title=How States Are Spending Money in Education|last1=Bidwell|first1=Allie|website=[[U.S. News & World Report]]—News|access-date=May 5, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505044339/http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/01/29/how-states-are-spending-money-in-education|archive-date=May 5, 2015}}</ref>

The collegiate system of Maine also includes numerous [[Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education|baccalaureate]] colleges such as: the [[Maine Maritime Academy]] (MMA), [[College of the Atlantic]], [[Unity Environmental University]], and [[Thomas College]]. There is only one medical school in the state, ([[University of New England (United States)|University of New England]]'s [[University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine|College of Osteopathic Medicine]]) and only one law school (The [[University of Maine School of Law]]). There is one art school in the state, [[Maine College of Art & Design|Maine College of Art]], along with a private graduate school, [[Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts]], which offers a [[Doctor of Philosophy]] to visual artists.

The [[Maine Community College System]], founded in 1985 also serves "to provide associate degree, diploma and certificate programs directed at the educational, career and technical needs of the State's citizens and the workforce needs of the State's employers."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Title 20-A, §12703: Mission and goals|url=http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/20-a/title20-Asec12703.html|access-date=October 26, 2022|website=Maine Legislature}}</ref> This system includes [[Southern Maine Community College]] (SMCC), [[York County Community College]] (YCCC), [[Central Maine Community College]] (CMCC), [[Eastern Maine Community College]] (EMCC), [[Kennebec Valley Community College]] (KVCC), [[Northern Maine Community College]] (NMCC), and [[Washington County Community College]] (WCCC).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Our Colleges|url=https://www.mccs.me.edu/our-colleges/|access-date=October 26, 2022|website=Maine Community College System|language=en}}</ref>

Private schools in Maine are funded independently of the state and its furthered domains. Private schools are less common than public schools. A large number of private elementary schools with under 20 students exist, but most private high schools in Maine can be described as "semi-private".

Maine also has Vocational Schools, such as the [[Biddeford Regional Center of Technology]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Biddeford Regional Center of Technology|url=https://www.biddefordschools.me/o/brct|access-date=February 4, 2023|website=www.biddefordschools.me|language=en}}</ref> and Sanford Regional Technical Center<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sanford Regional Technical Center|url=https://www.sanford.org/o/sanford-regional-technical-center|access-date=February 4, 2023|website=www.sanford.org|language=en}}</ref> that teach trades such as welding, construction and vehicle repair to students.