University of Southern Maine
Public four-year university in Portland, ME that costs an average of $14,927 a year after financial aid, admits 79% of applicants and graduates 43% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$14,927
Acceptance rate
79%
Graduation rate
43%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$57,989
PublicSmall city4,222 undergraduates
Cost of University of Southern Maine
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $25,685 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,630 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $31,080 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $12,484 |
| Books and supplies | $1,000 |
| Average net price after aid | $14,927 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $10,980 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $11,278 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $12,194 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $15,400 |
| $110,001+ | $21,982 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with University of Southern Maine's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 79% |
|---|---|
| Average SAT | 1,116 |
| SAT reading (25th–75th percentile) | 500–650 |
| SAT math (25th–75th percentile) | 490–600 |
| ACT composite (25th–75th percentile) | 24–28 |
| Test scores | Required |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 43% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 74% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $50,121 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $57,989 |
| Rank in Maine (earnings) | 8th of 17 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $20,399 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $232 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 32% |
| Students with federal loans | 33% |
Majors and programs at University of Southern Maine
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (54)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 344 | $78,849 | $18,750 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 40 | $75,507 | $22,375 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 17 | $74,882 | — |
| Computer Science | 36 | $68,465 | $20,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 43 | $53,149 | $18,500 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 198 | $51,483 | $18,750 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 33 | $51,035 | — |
| Economics | 19 | $50,211 | — |
| Biology | 72 | $47,501 | $20,250 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | 21 | $45,801 | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 137 | $45,039 | $16,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 95 | $44,400 | $18,000 |
| Social Work | 46 | $44,269 | $12,757 |
| Criminology | 30 | $43,218 | $19,982 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 34 | $42,951 | $13,350 |
| Marketing | 67 | $42,618 | $18,314 |
| Psychology | 106 | $39,895 | $21,500 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 21 | $39,022 | — |
| English Language and Literature | 48 | $39,001 | $22,207 |
| Social Sciences, Other | 146 | $38,977 | $19,768 |
| History | 62 | $37,726 | $22,500 |
| Sociology | 20 | $36,259 | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | 35 | $34,364 | $16,329 |
| Political Science and Government | 53 | $34,187 | $22,219 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | — | — | — |
| Anthropology | 10 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 8 | — | — |
| Chemistry | 4 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | 19 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 18 | — | — |
| Engineering | — | — | — |
| Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies | 10 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 1 | — | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 28 | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 4 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 19 | — | — |
| Industrial Engineering | — | — | — |
| Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians | 10 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 24 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 12 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 15 | — | — |
| Music | 32 | — | $24,820 |
| Philosophy | 8 | — | — |
| Physical Sciences | 2 | — | — |
| Physics | 5 | — | — |
| Public Health | 19 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 7 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | — | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 15 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 34 | — | $22,500 |
Certificate programs (24)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 6 | — | — |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | 1 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 2 | — | — |
| American Indian/Native American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 3 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 2 | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | — | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 1 | — | — |
| Gerontology | 1 | — | — |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 1 | — | — |
| Insurance | 7 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Mathematics | — | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 4 | — | — |
| Social Sciences, Other | 2 | — | — |
| Sociology and Anthropology | — | — | — |
| Statistics | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
Associate's degree programs (2)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | — | — | — |
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs (18)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | — | $83,045 | — |
| Agriculture/Veterinary Preparatory Programs | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | — | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | — | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Public Health | — | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | — | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | — | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | — | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (30)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 67 | $108,772 | $29,850 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 54 | $75,054 | $20,500 |
| Public Health | 28 | $69,294 | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 42 | $62,062 | $23,450 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 27 | $61,646 | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 141 | $60,300 | $35,655 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 47 | $59,430 | $44,007 |
| Social Work | 62 | $56,015 | $35,138 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 96 | $51,924 | $19,000 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 73 | $49,504 | $38,775 |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 109 | $49,036 | $18,792 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 119 | $48,983 | $20,500 |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 49 | $45,915 | $57,135 |
| Accounting and Related Services | — | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 11 | — | — |
| Area Studies | — | — | — |
| Biology | 4 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | 9 | — | — |
| Computer Science | — | — | — |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 41 | — | — |
| Data Science | — | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | 48 | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 5 | — | — |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology | — | — | — |
| Music | 6 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 5 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | — | — | — |
| Statistics | 6 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 14 | — | — |
Doctoral degree programs (5)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 4 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 6 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 15 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | — | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 11 | — | — |
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 169 | $66,803 | $62,244 |
Graduate certificate programs (34)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Area Studies | — | — | — |
| Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education | 2 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 17 | — | — |
| City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning | — | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 14 | — | — |
| Computer Software and Media Applications | — | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | — | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 26 | — | — |
| Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | — | — | — |
| English Language and Literature/Letters, Other | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 4 | — | — |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 19 | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | — | — | — |
| History | — | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 5 | — | — |
| Information Science/Studies | — | — | — |
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies | 57 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | — | — | — |
| Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 3 | — | — |
| Music | — | — | — |
| Public Administration | — | — | — |
| Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Health | 7 | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | 4 | — | — |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 5 | — | — |
| Security Science and Technology | 1 | — | — |
| Social Sciences | 3 | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 3 | — | — |
| Statistics | 1 | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 3 | — | — |
| Sustainability Studies | 1 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 2 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 24 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 22 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Maine
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maine at Augusta | Augusta | $9,721 | — | $44,543 |
| University of Maine | Orono | $17,224 | 97% | $59,140 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | Presque Isle | $10,972 | 100% | $47,161 |
| University of Maine at Farmington | Farmington | $17,158 | 97% | $47,674 |
| Maine Maritime Academy | Castine | $21,078 | 54% | $101,511 |
| University of Maine at Fort Kent | Fort Kent | $11,167 | 98% | $56,874 |
About University of Southern Maine
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Portland, ME |
| Setting | Small city |
| Undergraduates | 4,222 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 14 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | usm.maine.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is University of Southern Maine's acceptance rate?
University of Southern Maine admits 79% of applicants. Admitted students average 1,116 on the SAT.
How much does University of Southern Maine cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $25,685 a year (tuition and fees: $12,630 in-state, $31,080 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $14,927 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,980.
How much do University of Southern Maine graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $57,989 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 8th of 17 similar colleges in Maine. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($78,849 a year after graduation).
What is University of Southern Maine's graduation rate?
43% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 74% of first-year students return for a second year.