University of Southern Maine — College Profile

About

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a student-centered public institution renowned for its strong regional workforce connections and highly regarded programs in nursing, business, education, and the arts. A distinctive feature of USM is its multi-campus model, which seamlessly pairs a traditional residential experience in historic Gorham with an urban, professionally connected main hub in Portland and a commuter campus in Lewiston-Auburn. Student life is civic-minded and energetic, benefiting immensely from Portland’s thriving coastal culinary, music, and business scenes. This dynamic environment ensures undergraduates have access to abundant clinical placements, corporate internships, and community-engaged research opportunities throughout southern Maine.

Wikipedia:The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university with campuses in Gorham and Portland, Maine, United States. It is the southernmost university in the University of Maine System. It was founded as two separate state universities, Gorham Normal School and Portland University. The two universities, later known as Gorham State College and the University of Maine at Portland, were combined in 1970 to help streamline the public university system in Maine and eventually expanded by adding the Lewiston campus in 1988.

Location

Portland, ME, 04103 · City campus

✈

Nearest airport from college

PWM · Portland ME

2 mi away

Open in Google Maps

Cost & aid

Cost of attendance

These figures are federal data and may be out of date.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition & fees$11,284$27,944

Housing & food (on campus)$12,280$12,280

Books & supplies$1,000$1,000

Cost of attendance$23,717$40,377 est.

Average net price$13,596Not published

Out-of-state prices

Tuition & fees$27,944

In-state: $11,284

Housing & food (on campus)$12,280

Books & supplies$1,000

Cost of attendance$40,377 est.

In-state: $23,717

Average net priceNot published

In-state: $13,596

est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Net price by family income · in-state students

$0–30k

$9,999

$30–48k

$10,847

$48–75k

$12,550

$75–110k

$16,750

$110k+

$19,180

Your family's actual price → University of Southern Maine net price calculator

Source: U.S. College Scorecard

Grants from the school

89% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $7,272

Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

43%

Within 4 yrs

26%

Back for yr 2

74%

Transferred

26%

Pell students: 36.7% · others: 43.2%

8 yrs after starting

41% graduated · 29% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 29% left or unknown

Earnings

6 yrs after entry$47,107

10 yrs after entry$49,958

Debt

Median at graduation$19,060

Monthly payment$202

Middle 50% owe$5.5k–$26k

90th percentile$35,750

Admissions

Getting in

Admit rate

79%

Test policy

Required

SAT average

1116

R 500–650 · M 490–600

ACT midpoint

Comp 24–28 · E 22–26 · M 25–28

SAT middle 50%: 990–1250

40080012001600

Admitted students

Admit rate: men 71.6% · women 84.0%

Yield: 15.3% of admitted students enroll

Wondering if University of Southern Maine is the right fit for you?

omhu builds a personalized college list — reach, match, and safety schools — tailored to your profile, grades, and goals. Get financial aid estimates, scholarship guidance, and deep dives on every school.

Personalized reach / match / safety list

Financial aid & net cost estimates

Deep dives on any school

Scholarship search

Get your college list →See a sample college plan first

Essay prompts

If University of Southern Maine asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body

Gender

Men 41%Women 59%

Who enrolls

Faculty ratio

14 : 1

Pell grant

28%

First-gen

33%

Family income

$35,814

Independent

33%

Veterans

Age at entry

23.0

Part-time

20%

Where first-years come from

In state (ME)

75.4%

Out of state

23.8%

International

0.8%

Most out-of-state first-years from: NH 46 · MA 34 · VT 23 · CT 13 · FL 6

Race & ethnicity

White

75%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III without football

Baseball
Men's
Basketball
Men's · Women's
Field Hockey
Women's
Golf
Men's · Women's
Ice Hockey
Men's · Women's
Lacrosse
Men's · Women's
Soccer
Men's · Women's
Softball
Women's
Tennis
Men's · Women's
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
Men's · Women's
Volleyball
Women's
Wrestling
Men's

Programs & Earnings

Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings

Median earnings, all programs

After 6 yrs

$47,107

After 10 yrs

$49,958

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing168

Business Administration, Management and Operations96

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions69

Social Sciences, Other59

Psychology, General56

Communication and Media Studies51

Biology, General42

Marketing36

History29

Political Science and Government26

Mechanical Engineering22

Social Work22

Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services19

English Language and Literature, General18

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods16

Music16

Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.

Institutional

Resources

Endowment

$51M

Full-time faculty

40%

Faculty salary

$10,420/mo

Teaching spend

$10,101

per student

Federal loans

35%

Classification

Carnegie type

Master's (larger programs)

Research activity

R2 — high research

$7M research spending · 25 research doctorates a year

Undergraduate profile