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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 school uses a semester-based calendar. The freshman retention rate at University of Southern Maine is 73.94% and the six-year graduation rate is 39%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. Explore this school's profile to find out all the important 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
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. How difficult is it to get admitted to University of Southern Maine and what are the admission requirements?
As far as admission difficulty is considered, 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 first-year 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% 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.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by February 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of freshmen liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for University of Southern Maine was 73.94% in 2025, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 39%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at University of Southern Maine in 2025 was 7,604.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 17% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 5,525, 65 of which were foreign students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 1,575 male and 2,483 female full-time students in 2025. There were 189 full-time graduate male and 418 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at University of Southern Maine.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 119, while the number of African American students was 361. 189 undergraduate 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, as well as 29 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 82 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The latest information on the expenses that most students at this school incur are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at University of Southern Maine? Here is what you need to know.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $9,480. For out-of-state students, tuition fees amounted to $27,930. If you are an international student at University of Southern Maine, you should know that the 2025 tuition came to $27,930, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $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
Another important expense to take into consideration is the approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university. Most students have to allocate about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at University of Southern Maine.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at University of Southern Maine amounted to $12,425 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $6,700 for one 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 support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at University of Southern Maine.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 498 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $16,639.01 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 2,075 students who obtained 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 total 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. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like 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 non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants 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 or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at University of Southern Maine was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. According to the most recent information, there are 588 teachers at this school. This number included 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
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about social life at University of Southern Maine.
It has a campus size of 144 acres.
Student Organizations
Involvement in student organizations can make your educational experience more dynamic and gratifying.
That includes sororities and fraternities. Those interested in music 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
University of Southern Maine offers a number of services crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates around the clock. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is 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
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University of Southern Maine is located in Portland, ME.
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University of Southern Maine offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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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.
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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.
