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Maine Career Colleges and Universities

Career and Technical Training in Maine

Maine career colleges: Enjoy the books, autumn, lobster and coastline. Maine is home to many of the most respected institutions of higher educations. Each program from a Maine Career College, a post-secondary for-profit institution, offers an education with an in-demand career field. The programs are designed to get you work-ready, equipped with the practical knowledge, and the competence needed to obtain a competitive career in Maine.

At career colleges in Maine, you typically don't take general education classes in core subjects such as English and math. Instead, you focus on career-related courses.

Maine Career-Focused Degree Programs

Deciding to attend a Maine college may be one of the best decisions you ever make. This is the favorite state of many Americans, with its picturesque harbors, rocky coastline, sparkling seafood, and pristine interior forests and mountains.

Maine career colleges: Enjoy the books, autumn, lobster and coastline

President Barack Obama is right: Getting a solid education is more important than ever. Due to the rising cost of education, obtaining a four-year bachelor's degree might not always be the ideal choice for students who want to capitalize quickly on their educational investment. That's where vocational and career training comes in: It teaches practical, career-oriented skills for those who want to spend less time in the classroom and more time on the job.

Popular Maine career colleges and vocational training programs

The seven colleges who make up the Maine Community College System offer a wide variety of excellent vocational and trade programs. Located in every corner of the state, from Presque Isle to South Paris, the MCCS gives students access to more than 300 career programs.

During the fall term of 2010, the MCCS served nearly 18,000 students in degree and non-degree programs, making it the second-fastest growing community college system in the nation. Popular degrees and certificates include such topics as:

• precision machining technology
• career services
• automotive technology
• culinary arts
• early childhood education

The Maine Department of Education has a number of innovative initiatives to attract students to important, but somewhat undervalued sectors, such as agriculture and related, emerging technologies, which account for $1 billion of the state economy.

In addition to public secondary and post-secondary programs, vocational and career training is also offered at numerous private schools in Maine, including Beal College in Bangor, which has been a mainstay there for more than 120 years.

Beal College offers a variety of career-focused degrees and certificates, including:

• substance abuse counseling
• criminal justice and law enforcement
• health information management

SpaTech Institute in Portland offers always-in-demand training in massage therapy and polarity therapy.

Potential earnings for graduates of career colleges and trade schools

The Bureau of Labor Statistics listed the following mean annual wages for positions that require formal vocational education for the state of Maine as of May 2010:

1. Automotive service technicians and mechanics: $35,750
2. Bill and account collectors: $32,900
3. Medical assistants: $30,260
4. Hairdressers and cosmetologists: $25,490

While no degree can guarantee a salary, many schools do offer job placement assistance.

Having fun while attending a career college or trade school in Maine

In 2009, Forbes magazine selected Portland as the country's most livable city, and we can see why: It's a progressive, lively place that is home to the largest number of colleges and universities in the state. Most other towns are relatively small and quaint, including Auburn, Lewiston, Sandford and Windham.

When not hitting the books, you might try whale watching outside picturesque Freeport, or stop by the headquarters of iconic, outdoor clothing manufacturer L.L. Bean to stock up on essentials for all your outdoor adventures.

Maine is New England at its best, and the beginning of the academic year also marks the early days of the most beautiful season: fall with its brilliantly colored leaves to run through and play in.

You've seen the postcards that resemble paintings. If you decide to attend a career college in Maine, you can snap a postcard-worthy picture of you, your family and friends in front of stunning lighthouses, gently sloping dunes on the beach, or feasting on some famous Maine lobster. Enjoy the delicious life.

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