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CollegeGrad School
University of Maine

University of Southern Maine

#10 in Best Value Colleges in Maine
  • 4 Year
  • Portland, ME
  • 679 reviews
    How to Apply
    C+
    Overall Niche Grade
    How are grades calculated?
    1. Academics
      B-
    2. Value
      B
    3. Diversity
      B+
    4. Campus
      C-
    5. Athletics
      C+
    6. Party Scene
      B-
    7. Professors
      B
    8. Location
      A
    9. Dorms
      C-
    10. Campus Food
      C
    11. Student Life
      C
    12. Safety
      B-
    View Full Report Card
    Southern Maine is a public university located in Portland, Maine. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 3,901 undergraduate students. The Southern Maine acceptance rate is 83%. Popular majors include Business, Nursing, and Health Professions. Graduating 33% of students, Southern Maine alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $33,000.
    About University of Southern Maine...
    Athletic Division
    NCAA Division III (without football)
    Athletic Conference
    Little East Conference
    Address
    96 Falmouth St
    Portland, ME 04103
    Website
    usm.maine.edu

    University of Southern Maine Rankings

    Niche rankings are based on rigorous analysis of key statistics from the U.S. Department of Education and millions of reviews.

    Admissions

    Acceptance Rate
    83%
    Application Deadline
    Rolling Admissions
    SAT Range
    950-1160
    ACT Range
    19-25
    Application Fee
    $40
    SAT/ACT
    Required
    High School GPA
    Neither required nor recommended
    Early Decision/Early Action
    No

    Test Prep

    SAT and ACT Prep Options
    Learn More
    • 200-Point SAT & 4-Point ACT Score Improvement Guarantees
    • Save $200 When You Enroll Online

    Cost

    Net Price
    $11,338/ year
    National
    $15,523
    Average cost after financial aid for students receiving grant or scholarship aid, as reported by the college.
    Average Total Aid Awarded
    $9,062/ year
    National
    $7,535
    Students Receiving Financial Aid
    96%

    Academics

    Professors
    B
    Based on faculty accomplishments, salary, student reviews, and additional factors.
    Student Faculty Ratio
    14:1
    Evening Degree Programs
    Yes
    71%
    of students agree that professors put a lot of effort into teaching their classes.42 responses
    64%
    of students agree that it is easy to get the classes they want.50 responses
    56%
    of students agree that the workload is easy to manage.50 responses

    Majors

    Most Popular Majors
    • Business
      145 Graduates
    • Nursing
      124 Graduates
    • Health Professions
      81 Graduates
    • Communications
      66 Graduates
    • Psychology
      54 Graduates
    • Accounting
      44 Graduates
    • Marketing
      43 Graduates
    • Social Sciences
      43 Graduates
    • English
      38 Graduates
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities
      33 Graduates

    Students

    Full-Time Enrollment
    3,901Undergrads
    Part-Time Undergrads
    2,209
    Undergrads Over 25
    19%
    Pell Grant
    45%
    Varsity Athletes
    10%
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes the typical student at this school?
    Based on 28 responses
    Report
    • Average
      25%
    • Diverse
      25%
    • Movtivated
      25%
    • Non-traditional
      14%
    • Diverse
      4%
    • Stressed
      4%
    • Tired
      4%

    Campus Life

    Freshmen Live On-Campus
    —
    Poll
    43%
    of students say Greek life is pretty low-key and has little effect on the social scene.49 responses
    Poll
    67%
    of students say varsity sporting events are attended, but not a huge part of campus life.69 responses
    Poll
    What one word or phrase best describes your school?
    Based on 31 responses
    Report
    • Helpful
      29%
    • Small
      26%
    • Dedicated
      16%
    • Great!
      16%
    • Diverse
      3%
    • Kinda rough
      3%
    • Strict
      3%

    After College

    Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation
    $38,700/ year
    National
    $33,028
    Graduation Rate
    33%
    National
    49%
    Employed 2 Years After Graduation
    93%
    National
    83%
    82%
    of students feel confident they will find a job in their field after graduation.33 responses
    Colleges like University of Southern Maine
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    University of Southern Maine Reviews

    679 reviews
    All Categories
    I am taking early college classes at USM while I finish my senior year at high school. I am taking a Marine Biology course and a College Writing course, thus far, my experience has been reassuring and easy to manage, and I have learned a lot! My professor for Marine Biology is not extremely passionate because it is an intro class (with lots of non-majors), but my College Writing professor has made the writing process a lot easier for me. I highly suggest USM!
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    I am very satisfied with the education I am receiving at the University of Southern Maine. This is my second bachelor’s degree and have received amazing support by both professors and advisors about accomplishing my academic goals. I appreciate the flexibility of having classes offered at different times, formats, and locations across the state. The diversity of the student body has also enriched my academic experience here. I find the academic rigor of the courses challenging. If I could change one thing about the University is that I would expand the courses available at satellite campuses. Overall, I highly recommend the University of Southern Maine.
    From the perspective of a new student enrolling into the school and one that has spent two summers on the Gorham, Maine campus during a program: USM, as it is commonly referred to, seems to provide a solid foundation for education but lacks individuality and a particular culture to call its own. Helpful staff, decent professors, and a comparatively small tuition bill, USM offers many Maine residents the chance to attend college and graduate with a reasonable bill. Some buildings on the Portland campus seem slightly dilapidated, though the main buildings are very nice. In the Gorham campus, freshman housing is one of the best you can get. Though you're required to share a room, the room size is one of the most spacious compared to other offerings. Though this only takes into account the dorms in Woodward Hall.