University of Southern Maine — College Profile

About

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is best known for its unique multi-campus structure—spanning Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn—which seamlessly connects students to the state’s most vibrant economic and cultural hub. Prospective applicants are drawn to USM's highly regarded programs in nursing, business, and education, as well as the prestigious Muskie School of Public Service, all of which offer robust internship pathways with local industry leaders. The student experience beautifully balances a traditional, residential campus culture in scenic Gorham with an active, urban lifestyle in Portland, now anchored by the state-of-the-art, eco-friendly Portland Commons residence hall. Connected by a convenient, free campus shuttle, this distinctive dual-campus setup allows students to enjoy a supportive, close-knit academic community while gaining immediate access to Portland’s thriving job market, world-class culinary scene, and coastal beauty.

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These figures are federal data and may be out of date.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, 2023-24

$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

Outcomes

Completion

Within 6 yrs

43%

Entered 2017–18

Within 4 yrs

26%

Back for yr 2

74%

Transferred

26%

8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students

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

Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021

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 · applied for fall 2024

Admit rate

79%

Test policy

Required

Per College Scorecard

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

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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%

Race & ethnicity

White

75%

Hispanic

Black

Asian

Two or more

Non-resident

AI/AN

Unknown

Varsity sports

NCAA Division III without football · EADA 2024-25

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 · measured 2020 & 2021

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