Colleges by Location
Colleges by Fields of Study
Colleges by Tuition Range
Colleges by GPA Range
College by SAT Range
Colleges by ACT Score
Graduate Schools by Location
Graduate Schools by Fields of Study
Graduate School by Degree Type
Paying for Graduate School
Online Graduate Programs
Test Preparation
Career Planning
College Planning
Graduate School Planning
Applying to Graduate School
Engineering Careers
- More
Portland , ME
The University of Southern Maine is a public university located in Portland, Maine. Established in 1878, it is a part of the University of Maine System and offers a wide range of programs and degrees at undergraduate and graduate levels. The university is known for its strong emphasis on community engagement and practical learning experiences.
USM has three main campuses in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn. The Portland campus is located in the state's largest city and offers programs in liberal arts, business, education, and health sciences. The Gorham campus, situated just 10 miles from Portland, provides a more traditional college setting with a focus on liberal arts, sciences, and professional programs. The Lewiston-Auburn campus, located in central Maine, offers a variety of programs in fields such as arts and humanities, social sciences, and nursing.
The University of Southern Maine is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. It values collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and social responsibility. Students at USM benefit from small class sizes, dedicated faculty, and numerous internship and research opportunities. The university also has strong ties with local industries and organizations, providing valuable networking opportunities for its students. With its focus on practical learning and community engagement, the University of Southern Maine prepares students for successful careers and meaningful contributions to their communities.
University of Southern Maine is a public university located in Portland, ME and set in an urban environment. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. The freshman retention rate at University of Southern Maine is 73.94% and the six-year graduation rate is 39%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about University of Southern Maine.
Quick Facts
5,525
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
39%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most essential data you should know about admission at University of Southern Maine.
Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 12% and ACT scores 1%. 2.4% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 36.1% between 1,200 and 1,399, 36.1% between 1,000 and 1,199, 22.9% of the students between 800 and 999, and 2.4% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 11.11, 55.56 between 24-29, 11.11 in the range between 18-23, and 22.22 between 12-17.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of Southern Maine was 73.94% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 39%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the right match for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at University of Southern Maine in 2025 was 7,604.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 17. There was a total of 5,525 undergraduate students, including 65 international students. 0 students were accepted as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,575 male and 2,483 female full-time students in 2025. 189 full-time graduate men and 418 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 119 Asian students and 361 Afro-American students in 2025. 189 students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 200 as multirace. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 29 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 82 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at University of Southern Maine that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
Tuition fees for area resident were $9,480, as reported by public county or municipal institutions. For students who don't live in the state in which the university is located, the tuition was $27,930 in 2025. Tuition costs at University of Southern Maine for international students were $27,930. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $3,150 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $27,930 | $3,150 | $31,080 |
| In-State | $9,480 | $3,150 | $12,630 |
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to take into account the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated cost of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $1,000.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
At University of Southern Maine, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $12,425. If you only wanted a room on the campus, it cost $6,700 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 9,480 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,425 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,000 |
| Total Expense | $ 22,905 |
Financial Aid
Financial aid for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at University of Southern Maine.
According to the most recent data, 498 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $16,639.01.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
There were 2,075 students who acquired need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at University of Southern Maine is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was 2,227.
$5,022
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 225 students overall (including freshmen) at University of Southern Maine in 2025. 53 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $2,657,194. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $903,476 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
In 2025, this ratio at University of Southern Maine was 14:1. That means that there were 14 times more students than teachers at this school. The faculty of this school consists of 588 members, according to the most recent data reported. Out of that number, there were 235 men and 353 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at University of Southern Maine.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at University of Southern Maine is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at University of Southern Maine.
Its campus is 144 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
This number includes sororities and fraternities. If you are interested in music, you can join the University of Southern Maine band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a passion for media and communication? University of Southern Maine publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At University of Southern Maine, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services, Veteran's Affairs and Women's Center are available to the students of University of Southern Maine.
All in all, campus life at University of Southern Maine is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at University of Southern Maine.
Career Counselling
The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
-
University of Southern Maine is located in Portland, ME.
-
University of Southern Maine offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
-
The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for University of Southern Maine is 73.94%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
Find the best schools for you.
Need help with choosing grad school? We got you.
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.