A private college with two branches already in Maine will open a third in Augusta. Kaplan University’s Augusta campus will operate out of 14 Marketplace Drive, putting it close to the University of Maine at Augusta, which offers overlapping programs in business and nursing. Kaplan’s expansion will add at least a dozen employees.

“It’s really to expand on our mission working with adults who want to come back and give themselves more opportunity in a new career,” said Christopher Quinn Kaplan University Maine President.

The Augusta campus will have similar classes offered in South Portland and Lewiston starting this September in accounting, business administration, criminal justice, early childhood development, medical assisting and paralegal studies. Eventually nursing will be added.

Kaplan’s average class size is about 14 students. The private college courses come at a cost just above what the University of Maine charges- $217- per credit hour. A course at Kaplan will run a student $250 per credit hour, plus a $210 technology fee for each quarter. At Kennebec Community College Maine residents pay $86 per credit hour, plus other fees.

Kaplan Inc. is owned by The Washington Post Co. In 2005, it bought Andover College, which owned the campuses in South Portland and Lewiston. About 1,400 people are in Maine.

Other educational institutions area also are planning expansions.

Thomas College in Waterville, offers programs in business, technology and education, plans to nearly double its enrollment to 1,400 students in the next several years as it expands its West River Road campus.

KVCC has bought 13 buildings and 600 acres from Good Will-Hinckley in Fairfield, which will allow it to grow by 2,000 students, to nearly 5,000. The Good Will campus is now home to the Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, an agricultural and environmental magnet school.