Unity Environmental University (formerly Unity College) is a private not-for-profit university in New Gloucester, Maine, that specializes in sustainability and environmental science and now teaches most of its students online. Its pros are a clear environmental focus, accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), moderate online tuition and flexible start options for adults. Its cons are a high student-to-faculty ratio, a smaller residential program after it closed its original campus, and some alumni criticism of its shift online.
Here are the pros and cons in detail, based on the federal College Navigator database and published information about the university.
Unity Environmental University at a Glance
- Type: 4-year, private not-for-profit.
- Location: New Gloucester, Maine, with online programs and other sites.
- Founded: 1965 as the Unity Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences; renamed Unity College two years later.
- Degrees: certificates, associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sustainability and environmental fields.
- Enrollment (fall 2024): 7,165 students, 6,507 undergraduate and 658 graduate.
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 36 to 1.
Pros: What Unity Environmental University Does Well
- Specialist environmental focus. All programs center on sustainability and environmental science, an emphasis the college adopted in 1977.
- Regionally accredited for decades. Unity has been accredited by NECHE since 1974, with its next review listed for June 2033.
- Moderate tuition. Undergraduate tuition and fees were $12,640 a year from 2021-2022 through 2024-2025, and average graduate tuition was $9,750 in 2024-2025.
- Environmental credentials. It built the first Passivhaus college residence in the U.S. in 2011 and became the first college in the country to divest its endowment of fossil fuels in 2012.
- Online and in-person options. It began online graduate programs in 2016 and online undergraduate programs two years later, while still offering in-person education at its New Gloucester and other sites.
- Career support. College Navigator lists academic and career counseling, employment services for students and placement services for completers.
Cons: What to Weigh Before You Enroll at Unity Environmental University
- High student-to-faculty ratio. At 36 to 1, it is much higher than at most small private colleges.
- The traditional campus closed. The college closed its original Unity, Maine campus in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and later offered it for sale, which frustrated some alumni and faculty.
- Narrow program range. Students who want majors outside environmental and sustainability fields will need to look elsewhere.
- Heavy loan use. In 2023-2024, 87% of full-time beginning undergraduates took federal student loans.
What Unity Environmental University Costs
Undergraduate tuition and fees were $12,640 for 2024-2025. The average net price for full-time beginning students after grants was $18,454 in 2023-2024, a figure that includes estimated living costs. Among those students, 70% received Pell Grants. The three-year cohort default rate was 2.6% for fiscal year 2019 and 0.0% for 2020 and 2021.
Is Unity Environmental University a Good School? What the Numbers Say
Unity is a legitimate, long-accredited nonprofit, and it is a good fit for students and working adults who want an environmental or sustainability degree, especially online. Students looking for a traditional residential college, small classes or a broad range of majors should compare other options.
Who Accredits Unity Environmental University?
Unity is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education, the regional accreditor for New England colleges. College Navigator lists the accreditation as active since December 1974, with a next review in June 2033. Wikipedia notes that the college went through a difficult period in the 1980s, when it was placed on probation by its accreditor, before fundraising put it on a firmer footing; it later received a $10 million gift in 2011, and its endowment has grown to $18 million.
Who Unity Suits, and Who Should Look Elsewhere
Unity suits students and working adults who know they want a career connected to the environment, such as conservation, sustainability or environmental science, and who value flexible online study at a stable price. It also offers in-person options at New Gloucester and other sites, including a farm and indoor growing facility in Thorndike. Students who want small classes, a broad liberal arts catalog or a classic residential campus will likely be happier elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Unity Environmental University accredited?
Yes, by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Is Unity College the same as Unity Environmental University?
Yes. Unity Environmental University was formerly Unity College.
Is Unity Environmental University online?
It offers both online and in-person programs; most of its growth since 2016 has come from online education.