The University of Southern Maine (USM), northern New England's outstanding public, regional, comprehensive university, is dedicated to providing students with a high-quality, accessible, affordable education. Distinguished for teaching, research, scholarly publication, and creative activity, our faculty are committed to fostering a spirit of critical inquiry and civic participation. Our faculty members include Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellows, advisors to state and local government, and acclaimed authors which positions them well to help our students put classroom theory into real-world practice by becoming involved in community issues. Through active and service learning, USM is committed to community engagement both for the benefit of our students and the world around us, evidence that especially in a small state, motivated people can make a big difference.
About
From the School
Contact & Visit
Campus Visits Contact
Contact
Julia Gurney
Associate Director of Admissions for Visits & Events
Associate Director of Admissions for Visits & Events
Address
Office of Undergraduate Admission
37 College Ave.
Gorham, ME 04038
37 College Ave.
Gorham, ME 04038
Phone
207-780-5946
Email
usmadm@usm.maine.edu
Experience College Life
Most Popular Places On Campus
Art Gallery
Costello Sports Complex
Russell Theater and Concert Hall
Southworth Planetarium
WMPG Radio Station
Costello Sports Complex
Russell Theater and Concert Hall
Southworth Planetarium
WMPG Radio Station
Most Popular Places Off Campus
Portland's Old Port District
Casco Bay Cruise Lines
Portland Head Light / Ft. William's State Park
LL Bean, Freeport, ME
Portland Museum of Art
6. Sebago Lake 7. Sunday River Ski resort 8. Area Beaches: Scarborough, Crescent Beach State Park, Higgins Beach, Ferry Beach
Casco Bay Cruise Lines
Portland Head Light / Ft. William's State Park
LL Bean, Freeport, ME
Portland Museum of Art
6. Sebago Lake 7. Sunday River Ski resort 8. Area Beaches: Scarborough, Crescent Beach State Park, Higgins Beach, Ferry Beach
Campus Tours
Campus Tours
Appointment Required:
Dates:
Times:
Average Length:
Dates:
Times:
Average Length:
On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
Yes
Information Sessions
Available
Times
Selected Fridays
Faculty and Coach Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Advance Notice
3 weeks
Class Visits
Dates/Times Available
Academic Year
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
Not Available
Arrangements
Contact Admissions Office
Limitations
Only accepted students are invited to overnight programs
Transportation
Types of Transportation Available to Campus
Portland International Jetport is approximately 5 miles from campus. Taxis or rental cars are available at the airport; call 207-774-3941 to make arrangements. New England Transit buses serve Portland. Amtrak round trip to Boston.
Driving Instructions to Campus
https://usm.maine.edu/maps-parking-transportation
Local Accommodations
In the town of Gorham, there is Pine Crest Bed and Breakfast (207-839-5843), located on Route 114. This is a quaint old home within half a mile of the Gorham campus. The Portland Regency in the Old Port (20 Milk St.; 207-774-4200 or 800-727-3436) is a small hotel in the heart of the lively Old Port District. A 10-minute drive from the Portland campus, the Regency provides valet parking and has a well-equipped health club. Also located in the city of Portland, the Eastland Hotel (157 High St.; 207-775-5411 or 800-333-3333) is at Congress Square, near the Arts District. Nearby as well is the Holiday Inn by the Bay (88 Spring St.; 775-2311 or 800-HOLIDAY). Located beyond the downtown area, are the Double Tree Hotel (1230 Congress St.; 207-774-5611 or 800-222-TREE) and Holiday Inn-Portland West (81 Riverside St.; 207-774-5601 or 800-HOLIDAY).
Save SchoolAdmissions
Admissions
Overall
From The School
Students who apply by December 1 — and submit all supporting materials by December 15 — will be guaranteed an admission decision by January 15.
Test optional, with the exception of our Nursing program. Due to its competitive nature, undergraduate applicants to nursing must submit their SAT or ACT scores when applying.
We no longer require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission. This includes in-state, out-of-state, and international applicants as well as reapplication or reactivation.
https://usm.maine.edu/admissions
Overview
Applicants: 4,774
Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average HS GPA: 3.28
GPA Breakdown
13%
4.0
8%
3.75 - 3.99
17%
3.50 - 3.74
17%
3.25 - 3.49
22%
3.00 - 3.24
13%
2.50 - 2.99
9%
2.00 - 2.49
Need to boost your grades? We can help.
Learn MoreSAT & ACT Test Scores
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
488 - 590
SAT Math
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
470 - 570
SAT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
960 - 1160
ACT Composite Scores
25th-75th percentile (enrolled students)
20 - 25
Testing Policies
Standardized testing policy for use in admission
Test Optional
Deadlines
Early Action — December 1
Regular — August 14
Other Admission Factors
Academic
Rigor of Secondary School Record
Academic GPA
Selectivity Rating
Get a personalized plan for a competitive application from an admissions expert.
Learn MoreAcademics
Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Accelerated Graduate Pathways
AACSB Accredited School of Business
MIST Lab — and interdisciplinary creative space open to all majors
A USM education emphasizes connections for active learning through internships, service learning, and volunteership. Internships help students transition from their college experience to using their professional skills in a work environment. Students also benefit by gaining experience in chosen career paths and exploring different career choices. These experiences have become a valuable part of many graduates' resumes: In the academic year of 2018-19, approximately 1,483 academic for-credit internship experiences were completed by 739 students, completing 85,390 hours with over 200 employers and non-profit organizations. Because of the University of Southern Maine's prime locations, students have access to a wide range of opportunities with state and local government, triple-A sports teams, leading teaching hospitals, and a variety of music and performing arts venues—opportunities not readily available in more populous states.
Majors and Degrees Offered
Popular Academic Majors and programs:
Nursing
Environmental Science
Public Health
Cybersecurity
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
12:1
Total Faculty
810
with Terminal Degree
322
513
Women
297
Men
53
Minority
Most frequent class size
2 - 9
Most frequent lab / sub section size
10 - 19
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
20%
Graduate in 5 years
35%
Graduate in 6 years
40%
Majors
-
AREA, ETHNIC, CULTURAL, GENDER, AND GROUP STUDIES.
Women's Studies.
-
BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES.
Biochemistry.
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.
Exercise Physiology.
-
BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES.
Accounting and Finance.
Accounting.
Business Administration and Management, General.
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other.
Finance, General.
Marketing.
Tourism and Travel Services Management.
-
COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Mass Communication/Media Studies.
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.
-
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND SUPPORT SERVICES.
Computer Science.
-
EDUCATION.
Art Teacher Education.
Mathematics Teacher Education.
Music Teacher Education.
Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education.
Trade and Industrial Teacher Education.
-
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES AND ENGINEERING-RELATED FIELDS.
Industrial Technology/Technician.
-
ENGINEERING.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering
Mechanical Engineering.
-
ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE/LETTERS.
English Language and Literature, General.
-
FOREIGN LANGUAGES, LITERATURES, AND LINGUISTICS.
French Language and Literature.
Linguistics.
-
HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other.
Athletic Training/Trainer.
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy.
-
HISTORY.
History, General.
-
LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, GENERAL STUDIES AND HUMANITIES.
Humanities/Humanistic Studies.
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.
-
MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS.
Mathematics, General.
-
NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION.
Environmental Science.
Environmental Studies.
-
PARKS, RECREATION, LEISURE, AND FITNESS STUDIES.
Health and Physical Education/Fitness, General.
-
PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.
Philosophy.
-
PHYSICAL SCIENCES.
Chemistry, General.
Geology/Earth Science, General.
Physical Sciences.
Physics, General.
-
PSYCHOLOGY.
Psychology, General.
-
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS.
Social Work.
-
SOCIAL SCIENCES.
Criminology.
Economics, General.
Political Science and Government, General.
Social Sciences, Other.
Sociology.
-
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.
Art/Art Studies, General.
Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General.
Fine/Studio Arts, General.
Music Performance, General.
Music, General.
Music, Other.
Students Say
The two main campuses of mid-sized, "cost-effective" University of Southern Maine are about 10 miles apart, and they bridge "a country town and a city." (There's also a satellite campus in the Lewiston-Auburn area—Maine's twin cities.) Highlights at USM include a "very reputable" and "very demanding" nursing program as well as "extremely strong" business programs. Lectures can be "big" at the lower levels, but "smaller classes" "and one-on-one time with professors" become more readily available as you get into higher-level courses. The faculty here is a mixed bag. "Some professors are fantastic while others are atrocious," sums up a biology major. There are plenty of "really insightful," "knowledgeable, fun, inspiring, and devoted" professors who "provide critical feedback that affords room for growth" and are "quite passionate about their subject matter (even on the topic of algebra!)." However, other faculty members "show a clear lack of enthusiasm" or are just "kind of boring." Also, though course schedules are "flexible," the advising process "could use improvement," too. "It is really hard to register for classes or to have a question answered," protests a social work major.
Degrees
Bachelor's
Certificate
Doctoral
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate
Certificate
Doctoral
Doctoral/Professional
Doctoral/Research
Master's
Post-Bachelor's certificate
Post-Master's certificate
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Coop
Experiential
Internship
Notable Faculty
Prominent Alumni
Lois Lowry
Writer
Tony Shalhoub
Actor
Buck Janes
Planetary Sciences
Academic Rating
70/99
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
20%
Graduate in 5 years
35%
Graduate in 6 years
40%
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
Yes
Career Services
Alumni Network
Alumni Services
Classes
Internships
Regional Alumni
Opportunities at School
Coop
Experiential
Internship
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
Tuition*
In-state: $8,640
Out-of-State: $23,640
New England Regional Student Program***: $14,250
Room and Board
In-state: $10,290
Out-of-State: $10,290
New England Regional Student Program***: $10,290
*Tuition costs are based on enrollment in 30 credit hours per year. Cost per credit hour can be found here.
**Room and board costs may vary depending upon room assignment.
***The New England Regional Student Program enables New England residents to enroll in out-of-state public colleges and universities (in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) at a special reduced tuition rate for certain degree programs that are not offered by their home-state public institutions. High school guidance offices have more information about this program.
Canadian residents these numbers reflect direct costs to USM. Students will incur additional indirect costs such as travel and miscellaneous expenses not paid to USM. Please refer to Office of International Programs Documenting Funding for additional cost information.
Information available here: https://usm.maine.edu/student-financial-services/estimated-cost-attendance-one-year
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, merit based awards, and others are available.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Notification Date
Mar 15
Required Forms
FAFSA
Financial Aid Statistics
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$10,096
Average Undergraduate Total Need-Based Gift Aid
$9,830
Average Need-Based Loan
$6,231
Financial aid provided to international students
No
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition (In-State)
$7,590
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$19,950
Required Fees
$1,330
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
$1,220
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
$4,500
Transportation for Commuters
On-Campus Room and Board
$9,400
Comprehensive Fee
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Federal
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Need-Based College/University Scholarship or Grant Aid from Institutional Funds
Need-Based Federal Pell
Need-Based Private Scholarships
Need-Based SEOG
Need-Based State Scholarships
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Direct PLUS Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
College/university loans from institutional funds
Federal Nursing Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Nursing Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
Yes
Direct Lender
No
Financial Aid Rating
72/99
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
Popular groups and organizations:
Student engagement and leadership
Intramural sports clubs
Athletics
Living and Learning Communities
Intercultural Diversity Center
Annual Research Symposium — Thinking Matters
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
6,098
Foreign Countries Represented
19
Demographics
2.57%
Asian
7.67%
Black
3.69%
Hispanic
77.82%
Caucasian
2.89%
Unknown
60% female
40% male
14% are out of state
62% are full time
38% are part time
Students Say
The typical student at USM is a local, either from one of the surrounding towns or Portland proper. Beyond that, though, "there is no typical student at USM." There are thousands of traditional college-aged students. "Commuters who attend part-time" and older students with jobs and families are a large percentage of the population. "Every class is a mix of fresh-faced dorm dwellers, nerdy brains, arty alterna-kids, returning veterans, nontraditional adult students," and international students. "In just my group of friends," observes one student, "there is an African-American athlete, a nice girl from a mill-town, an aspiring rock star, an electrical engineering major, a stoner, and a girl who works full time at the mall." "Everyone is friendly," but the student population is disparate and "not particularly united." "One of the weaknesses of USM appears because of the environment created by the commuter-based population," elaborates one student. "There's not a lot of community, but I'm not sure they can do much about that."
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Campus Facilities & Equipment
We are moving forward with an historic $100 million construction of a career and student center and residence hall on our Portland campus. The new buildings will dramatically improve facilities for all students, offering a new career hub to better connect students and employers in the community and the campus's first residence hall. In addition there will be dining, plenty of study and meeting spaces, our university store, and coffee shop/brew pub. Both buildings will be eco-friendly and the residence hall will house upper level undergraduate students, graduate, and law students.
Our Gorham campus currently houses residential students and is home to the Southern Maine Huskies, our nationally recognized Division III athletics program. We offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete at conference, regional, and national levels. Our teams win their regional championships, including baseball, women's basketball, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track teams, and our student-athletes regularly earn All-American and Academic All-American honors. Our top-notch facilities include indoor basketball, track, and tennis courts, as well as an Olympic-size ice rink. The university mascot is Champ, the Husky.
Other facilities include up-to-date laboratories and spaces for students to learn and work hands-on in our QC2 craft beverage education and testing lab; MIST lab, our Maker Innovation Studio, encompasses a large Makerspace, a 3D Printing and prototyping area, a Digital Immersion Lab and a Digital Media Lab. The MIST Lab hosts classes, workshops, entrepreneurial and commercial projects, and walk-in availability for any USM student interested in using the facilities; a cybersecurity range in which students can practice their cyber-crime fighting skills; as well as the expected university-quality science labs for chemistry, biology, and other programs and libraries for studying and scholarly research.
Off-Campus Opportunities
USM's environmentally friendly campuses allow you to experience the very best that Maine has to offer — residence halls in a classic New England town and in Portland, the heart of Maine's intellectual, economic, and cultural center. We are currently building a new Student Center and Residence halls on our Portland campus. USM offers a robust selection of degree programs on-campus and online in liberal arts; STEM disciplines including a new cyber security lab; an AACSB-accredited business school; visual and performing arts; and an exceptional Honors Program with ties to Icelandic universities.
Our 22 nationally recognized Division III athletics programs offer student-athletes the opportunity to compete at conference, regional, and national levels. Our teams win their regional championships, including baseball, women's basketball, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track teams, and our student-athletes regularly earn All-American and Academic All-American honors. The university mascot is Champ, the Husky.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
14%
Help finding off-campus housing
No
66/99
First-Year Students living on campus
39%
Campus Environment
Small Urban
85/99
Housing Options
Apartment Married
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Apartment Single
Disabled Student
Dorms Coed
Frat Sorority
International Student
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
International Student
Theme Housing
Wellness Housing
Students Say
The first thing you want to know about life at USM is that you are going to have to deal with two campuses here. The majority of the younger, traditional students live on the Gorham campus, but many classes occur on the Portland campus, "a good 30to 40-minute drive or bus ride" away. "Shuttle buses are available at no charge," but "commuting between two campuses can be a huge pain." On the plus side, "USM really offers every type of college life if you know where to look." "The Gorham campus is where the dorms are," and it offers a more "traditional undergrad experience." "There are constantly events being held." "The performing arts community is huge and fun." You'll also find a nominal frat scene and a smattering of parties, though "a lot of people leave on the weekends because everyone lives very close and still have friends in their home towns." The "commuter campus" in Portland has a more urban feel. Students tell us that Portland is "the coolest city in Maine." It's got "oceanfront scenery," "an old New England feel," "great night life," "fabulous restaurants," and "one of the best arts scenes in New England." "You honestly can't not have fun here" but, in the event, Boston is "less than two hours" away. Skiing and snowboarding as well as "hiking, biking, climbing, fishing, and the beach" are also nearby.
Special Needs Admissions
Director
Joanne Benica
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
100
Number of Honor Societies
8
Number of Social Sororities
2
Number of Religious Organizations
Sports
Athletic Division
Division III
Men's Sports (Huskies)
12 Sports
Baseball
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Wrestling
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Wrestling
Women's Sports (Huskies)
13 Sports
Basketball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Cheerleading
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Tennis
Track Field Indoor
Track Field Outdoor
Volleyball
Student Services
Health
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of New Hampshire
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of New England
LGBT Support Groups: Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity
usm.maine.edu/csgd
Minority Support Groups: Multicultural Student Association, Asian American Association, International and National Exchange
Army ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of New Hampshire
Air Force ROTC Offered at cooperating institutions: University of New England
Sustainability
60*
Campus Security Report
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
Other Information
Campus-wide Internet Network
Yes
% of Classrooms with Wireless Internet
100
Fee for Network Use
No
Partnerships with Technology Companies
No
Personal computer included in tuition for each student
No
Discounts Available with Hardware Vendors
Yes
Description
Student discounts on software, computers
Wellness Program/Clinical Offerings
Institution has a mental health/wellness program that makes counseling, referral, and well-being services available to all students
Not Reported
Mental Health Website
Not Reported
Education & Training
Types of training available for students and faculty/staff
Program
Availability
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Not Reported
Engaging the Whole Campus
Institution has a Chief Behavioral Health Officer (and/or Chief Wellness Officer)
Not Reported
Peer-to-Peer
Institution has peer-to-peer offerings relating to mental health
Not Reported
Residential Life
Institution incorporates mental health and wellness into the residential experience
Not Reported
Student Orientation
Students who are provided an opportunity to participate in mental-health-orientation activities
First-year students
Not Reported
Incoming transfer students
Not Reported
Returning students
Not Reported
Entering graduate students
Not Reported
Mental Health in the Curriculum
The institution offers for-credit mental health/well-being education for students
Not Reported
The institution offers non-credit mental health/well-being education for students
Not Reported
Off-Campus Offerings
Institution offers referrals to off-campus counseling services
Not Reported
Health and Counseling Center Accreditation
Institution's counseling center is accredited
Not Reported
Accrediting body
Not Reported
Taking and Returning from Medical Leave
Institution has an official support program in place for students returning from mental health leave of absence
Not Reported
Counseling Demand
Number of months a year counseling center is open and fully staffed
Not Reported
