| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type | Public two-year college, one of the seven colleges of the Maine Community College System; campus-based, with some programs fully online |
| Locations | 2 in Maine: the main campus in Auburn and the Lincoln County Healthcare Education Center in Damariscotta (nursing only) |
| Credentials | Associate degrees (AAS, AS, AA), certificates and advanced certificates |
| Programs | 41 on the college’s Programs of Study list |
| Typical length | Associate degrees about two years (four semesters for Plumbing and Heating); many certificates one year |
| Accreditation | New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE); continued in September 2018, next comprehensive evaluation spring 2028 |
| Federal aid | Yes |
| 2026-27 cost | $96 per credit for Maine residents, $144 for New England Regional Student Program students, $192 out-of-state, plus $42 per credit in fees |
| Students | 4,754 in fall 2024, 36% full-time |
| Housing | Residence halls and apartments on the Auburn campus |
| Facts checked | October 2026 |
CMCC: a public two-year college in Auburn with residence halls
Central Maine Community College, known as CMCC, is one of the seven colleges of the Maine Community College System. Its main campus is on Turner Street in Auburn, in the Lewiston-Auburn area, and its nursing program also takes a small group each fall at the Lincoln County Healthcare Education Center in Damariscotta. The college lists 41 programs leading to associate degrees (AAS, AS and AA), certificates and advanced certificates. Fall 2024 enrollment was 4,754, and 64% of students studied part-time. Students can live on the Auburn campus in residence halls or apartments. Two programs alternate classroom time with paid work: the Dealer TraX format of Automotive Technology and the Jobsite track of Building Construction Technology.
Career programs at CMCC
The table lists the main career programs. Most CMCC program pages give the credential but not the credit total, which sits in a separate requirements sheet for each program; Plumbing and Heating Technology is the one shown here with credits. Program fees are from the 2026-27 catalog and are charged on top of tuition.
| Program | Credential | Delivery | Where | Exam, licence or accreditation | 2026-27 program fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing (RN) | Associate in Science | Day, evening and weekend sections; clinicals at local affiliates | Auburn; Damariscotta (8 fall seats) | NCLEX-RN; ACEN through 2028 | Testing $270 a semester; liability insurance $15 a year |
| Plumbing and Heating Technology | AAS, 61-63 credits (4 semesters); certificate, 30-32 credits (2 semesters) | On campus; externship option | Auburn | – | – |
| HVAC/R Technology | AAS; certificate | On campus | Auburn | – | – |
| Electromechanical Technology | AAS; one-year certificate | On campus | Auburn | Approved by Maine’s Electricians’ Examining Board toward the journeyman exam | – |
| Building Construction Technology | AAS (In-House or Jobsite track); one-year certificate | Jobsite track alternates class with paid work | Auburn | – | Code course $60; OSHA $10 |
| Precision Machining Technology | AAS; one-year certificate; advanced certificate | On campus, Haas technology lab | Auburn | – | Tool rental $100 a semester |
| Automotive Technology | AAS (In-House or Dealer TraX) | Dealer TraX alternates class with paid dealership work | Auburn | ASE Master Certification (catalog) | Tool rental $50 a semester plus $100 deposit |
| Automotive Technology – Ford ASSET | Ford dealer-sponsored program | – | Auburn | ASE Master Certification (catalog) | – |
| Facilities Maintenance and Management | AAS | On campus | Auburn | – | – |
| Medical Coding & Electronic Health Records | AAS; one-year certificate | On campus or 100% online | Auburn or online | A coding certification exam (not named by the college) | – |
| Physical Fitness Specialist | AAS | In person | Auburn | ACSM Certified Personal Trainer | ACSM exam $300; HeartSaver $25 |
| Criminal Justice | AAS | On campus or 100% online | Auburn or online | – | – |
| Police Operations | Advanced Certificate (after an associate degree) | On campus | Auburn | Maine Criminal Justice Academy Phase II pre-service certification | – |
| Conservation Law Enforcement | AAS | On campus | Auburn | – | – |
| Accounting | AAS | On campus or 100% online (8-week sessions) | Auburn or online | – | – |
| Computer Technology | AAS or AS (transfer) | On campus | Auburn | A+, Network+, Microsoft | – |
| Early Childhood Education | AAS | On campus with expanded online classes | Auburn | Credit for a CDA (6) or CECA (3) | Fingerprinting $80; liability insurance $15 a year |
Programmatic approvals, as the college states them: ACEN accreditation for Nursing through 2028 and Maine State Board of Nursing approval; ASE Master Certification for Automotive Technology and for Ford ASSET, as stated in the catalog; and approval of Electromechanical Technology by the State of Maine Electricians’ Examining Board toward the journeyman exam.
Several degrees are built mainly for transfer to a bachelor’s program, including Exercise Science, Education and the Business Transfer AS with its Sports Management Pathway. CMCC has no LPN, CNA, medical assistant, EMT or paralegal program for credit.
What the main programs cover
Nursing (Associate in Science, RN)
Lectures are shared between Auburn and Damariscotta by Polycom video link, and clinicals are faculty-led at local healthcare affiliates. Evening and weekend courses and clinicals have been offered since spring 2023. For fall 2026 entry, applicants need an overall TEAS score of at least 68.0%, or grades of A to B- in BIO 115 and 116, ENG 101 and a math course at MAT 100 or above. Seats go to qualified applicants in order until they are full, then to a waitlist that is valid for the current year only. Others can start in the Health Sciences certificate.
Plumbing and Heating Technology
The plumbing courses run from Plumbing Technology I and II and Plumbing Code to Maine Code. The heating courses cover Electricity, Pumps and Hydronics, Heating I and II, Propane and Natural Gas I and II and the Maine Oil and Solid Fuel Code. Construction Health and Safety is required, and students take either an externship or an International Code course. The AAS takes four semesters and the certificate two. The college’s requirements sheet does not say how many of these hours count toward a Maine licence.
Electromechanical Technology
The program covers electricity and industrial controls, electronics, process control, robotics and automation, and telecommunications, as an AAS or a one-year certificate. Students apply for a Maine electrician’s helper licence at the start. Maine’s Electricians’ Examining Board approves the program toward the journeyman exam: according to the college, AAS graduates who have completed 45 hours of current National Electrical Code coursework (ELT-117) may sit the exam within a year of finishing. The college notes that further licensed work hours are needed for the Journeyman-in-Training and Journeyman licences.
Automotive Technology and Ford ASSET
Automotive Technology is an AAS with two formats. In-House students do all of their class and shop work at the college. Dealer TraX students alternate periods of classes with paid work at a car dealership, so part of their training happens on the job. The catalog states ASE Master Certification and NATEF reaccreditation for the program. Ford ASSET is a separate program sponsored through Ford dealers and also carries ASE Master Certification. Automotive Technology students rent their tools from the college.
Police Operations Advanced Certificate
This certificate is for students who already hold an associate degree in criminal justice or a related field with at least a 2.5 GPA. Entry also requires a background check, a physical screening and an oral board. Graduates receive Maine Criminal Justice Academy certification for Phase II of the Law Enforcement Pre-service program and, according to the college, can work as police officers once they finish. Students without a degree can start with the Criminal Justice AAS, which can be taken on campus or fully online.
Building Construction Technology
Students choose between two AAS tracks. The In-House track is taught on campus, and a one-year In-House certificate is also offered. The Jobsite track alternates class and lab time with paid work for a construction company, so students gain site experience while they study. Coursework includes a building code course (BCT 126) and OSHA safety training. Architectural Studies and Facilities Maintenance and Management are related degrees taught on the same campus.
Tuition, fees and aid for 2026-27
CMCC’s 2026-27 tuition is unchanged from 2025-26. Every student also pays a $42 per-credit mandatory fee and $16 a year for required accident insurance. The New England Regional Student Program rate is for residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont who enroll in a program not offered in their home state.
| 2026-27, per credit | Tuition | With $42 mandatory fee | 30 credits a year, tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine resident | $96 | $138 | $4,140 |
| New England Regional Student Program | $144 | $186 | $5,580 |
| Out-of-state | $192 | $234 | $7,020 |
A full-time Maine resident taking 30 credits pays about $4,140 in tuition and fees, plus the $16 insurance. The Maine Community College System gave $4,156 a year as its full-time in-state tuition and fees in October 2025 and called it the lowest in New England. Room and board for 2026-27 ranges from $11,197 (Fortin Hall) to $12,244 (Mustang Hall doubles and the apartments), plus a $200 key and damage deposit, $200 a semester for cable and internet, $90 a semester for laundry and a $330 immunization fee.
CMCC takes federal student aid. According to College Navigator, 98% of full-time beginning students received grant aid in 2023-24, averaging $6,466, and the average net price for in-state full-time beginners with grant aid was $8,153 (2023-24).
Admissions and schedules
SAT and ACT scores are optional, and the college places students in courses using multiple measures. Two programs have their own entry rules: Nursing requires a TEAS score or set course grades and fills a limited number of seats each fall and spring, and Police Operations requires an associate degree, a background check, a physical screening and an oral board. Nursing applications for fall run 1 December to 28 February and for spring 4 September to 30 November.
Schedules vary by program. Accounting runs fully online in 8-week sessions; Criminal Justice, Psychology and Medical Coding & Electronic Health Records also have fully online options; Early Childhood Education and Education have expanded online classes; Nursing has evening and weekend sections. Check each program’s own page for online availability, as the college’s general program list is not a reliable guide to which programs are online.
Accreditation and results
CMCC is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). NECHE’s record shows its last comprehensive evaluation in 2018, continued accreditation in September 2018 and the next comprehensive evaluation in spring 2028. Before 2003 the college was accredited from 1976 by NEASC’s vocational commission (CTCI). Nursing is accredited by ACEN through 2028.
| Measure | Result | Period and source |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing, NCLEX-RN pass rate | 96% (Maine 92%, US 82%) | 2024, college nursing page |
| Nursing, NCLEX-RN pass rate | 100% (Maine 91%, US 89%) | 2023, college nursing page |
| Nursing, NCLEX-RN pass rate | 100% (Maine 84%, US 80%) | 2022, college nursing page |
| Nursing graduates employed as RNs | 100% (2024), 100% (2023), 97% (2022) | College nursing page |
| Nursing completion within 3 years of the first nursing course | 69% (2023/2024), 67% (2022/2023), 70% (2021/2022) | College nursing page |
| Graduation rate | 30% within 150% of normal time | Full-time, first-time students entering fall 2021, College Navigator |
| Transfer-out rate | 17% | Same cohort, College Navigator |
| Retention | 57% of full-time and 31% of part-time students returned | Fall 2023 to fall 2024, College Navigator |
CMCC’s nursing pass rates have been above the Maine and national averages in each of the three years the college reports. We found no pass or job-placement rates on the other CMCC program pages we checked.
Before you enroll
- Nursing seats are limited: 64 each fall across Auburn and Damariscotta and 40 each spring in Auburn. Qualified applicants who miss a place go on a waitlist that lasts only for the current year.
- The Criminal Justice AAS does not certify police officers. The Police Operations Advanced Certificate does, and it requires an associate degree first.
- Exercise Science, Education and the Sports Management Pathway are built for transfer to a bachelor’s: the college calls Exercise Science the first two years of a four-year curriculum, and Education and the Sports Management Pathway are for students planning to transfer. None is job training on its own.
- The $96 headline rate is tuition only. With the $42 per-credit fee, a Maine resident pays $138 per credit, before program fees such as tool rental, testing or exam fees.
- The college-wide graduation rate is 30% for full-time students who started in fall 2021, with another 17% transferring out, and most CMCC students study part-time.
Where CMCC teaches
| Location | Address | What is taught there |
|---|---|---|
| Auburn (main campus) | 1250 Turner Street, Auburn, ME 04210 | All programs; residence halls and apartments |
| Lincoln County Healthcare Education Center | 66 Chapman Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543 | Nursing (Associate in Science) only: 8 seats each fall |
Students applying to Nursing choose between the Auburn and Damariscotta cohorts; every other program is taught in Auburn or online.
Housing and paid work
CMCC has residence halls on its Auburn campus: Rancourt, Fortin and Mustang halls, plus campus apartments, priced from $11,197 to $12,244 for 2026-27 room and board. Paid work is built into two programs: Dealer TraX students in Automotive Technology work at dealerships, and Jobsite students in Building Construction Technology work for construction firms between class periods. Physical Fitness Specialist students train in the campus Mustang Fitness Center.
Sources
Checked October 2026: CMCC Programs of Study · 2026-27 Academic Catalog · Cost of attendance · Nursing program · NECHE institution record · College Navigator · Maine Community College System, October 2025
Programs & Courses
Nursing and Health
- Nursing (Associate in Science, RN)
- Health Sciences Certificate (pre-nursing pathway)
- Medical Coding & Electronic Health Records (AAS and certificate)
- Physical Fitness Specialist (AAS)
- Exercise Science (transfer AS)
- Human Services
Building and Energy Trades
- Plumbing and Heating Technology
- HVAC/R Technology
- Electromechanical Technology
- Building Construction Technology
- Facilities Maintenance and Management
- Architectural Studies
Machining and Metal
- Precision Machining Technology (AAS, certificate, advanced certificate)
- Metal Fabrication
Automotive
- Automotive Technology (In-House and Dealer TraX)
- Automotive Technology - Ford ASSET
Public Safety and Justice
- Criminal Justice
- Police Operations Advanced Certificate
- Conservation Law Enforcement
- Justice Studies
- Forensic Science
- Community Reintegration and Rehabilitation
Business
- Accounting
- Business Administration and Management
- Business Transfer (including the Sports Management Pathway)
Computers and Design
- Computer Technology
- Computer Information Systems
- Cybersecurity-Digital Forensics
- Data Science
- Graphic Design
- Communication and New Media
Culinary and Hospitality
- Culinary Arts
- Restaurant Management
Education and Transfer
- Early Childhood Education
- Education (transfer AS)
- Psychology
- Pre-Engineering
- General Studies
- Liberal Studies
- Life Sciences
- Social Sciences
Campus Locations
Auburn, ME 1250 Turner Street, Auburn, ME 04210
Damariscotta, ME 66 Chapman Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543