University of Southern Maine Acceptance Rate & Tuition
University of Southern Maine is a public research university in Portland, Maine, serving roughly 4,222 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 79.23% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $49,958 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $11,284
- 2024 Average Net Price: $13,596 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 79.23% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,222 80.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 40.35%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 32.8%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 7.9% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price decrease of 3.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 39.9%
- Average SAT Score: 1116
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,885
- Applicants (IPEDS): 5,823
- Room & Board: $12,280 annual estimate
University of Southern Maine: what the data shows
Common questions about University of Southern Maine, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is University of Southern Maine?
University of Southern Maine is located in Portland, ME (ZIP 04103).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is University of Southern Maine public or private?
University of Southern Maine is a Public institution.
How much does University of Southern Maine cost?
Published tuition: $11,284 in-state, $27,944 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $13,596.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,999 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,847 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,550 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,750 |
| $110,001+ | $19,180 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $45,136.
How hard is it to get into University of Southern Maine?
Admission rate: 79.23%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1116 and midpoint ACT 22.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is University of Southern Maine?
Total enrollment: 4,222 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 6,885 students.
Graduate enrollment: 2,079 students.
About 80% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Maine?
150%-time completion rate: 40.35%.
First-year retention: 73.9%.
What do graduates of University of Southern Maine earn?
Median earnings: $47,107 six years after entry; $49,958 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $19,060.
28.28% of students receive Pell grants.
What is University of Southern Maine known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (176 completions)
- Social Sciences, Other (88 completions)
- Law (85 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (83 completions)
- Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor (68 completions)
- Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other (68 completions)
- Educational Psychology (62 completions)
- Social Work (52 completions)
- Psychology, General (50 completions)
- Special Education and Teaching, General (49 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is University of Southern Maine a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 79.23%; completion rate 40.35%; median earnings $49,958 at 10 years; net price $13,596. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$11,284
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at University of Southern Maine was $11,284.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$13,596
2024 Value
In 2024 University of Southern Maine had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $13,596.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$54,384 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$13,596 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$45,136 4-Year In-State Tuition
$111,776 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$12,280 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,000 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$24,564 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$98,256 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for University of Southern Maine.
Financial Aid by Income Level
28.28% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
34.73% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at University of Southern Maine was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for University of Southern Maine in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,920 | $21,280 | $17,300 |
| 2014 | $7,796 | $18,508 | $17,048 |
| 2015 | $7,796 | $18,508 | $16,528 |
| 2016 | $7,796 | $18,508 | $14,994 |
| 2017 | $8,638 | $20,594 | $11,582 |
| 2018 | $8,918 | $21,294 | $12,180 |
| 2019 | $9,226 | $22,050 | $12,339 |
| 2020 | $9,528 | $22,996 | $12,055 |
| 2021 | $9,904 | $23,904 | $9,472 |
| 2022 | $10,120 | $24,736 | $12,137 |
| 2023 | $10,920 | $27,104 | $11,729 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
79.23% Acceptance Rate
5,823 Total Applicants
4,618 Students Admitted
718 First-Time Students Enrolled
15.55% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1116
ACT Average: 22
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
University of Southern Maine reported total enrollment of about 4,222 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 41% male and 59% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (75.2%), Black or African American (8.6%), and Two or More Races (4.7%). About 28.28% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 32.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
80.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at University of Southern Maine in 2024 is 4,222 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 6,885 students. Graduate enrollment is about 2,079 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
73.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 75.2%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
25.52% 100% Completion Time
40.35% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 25.52% of students graduating from University of Southern Maine completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 12% male / 88% female
- Social Sciences, Other: 6% male / 94% female
- Law: 35% male / 65% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for University of Southern Maine.
Return on Investment
$19,060 Median Student Debt
$49,958 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
38.15% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
818.62% Return on Investment
3.8 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for University of Southern Maine.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 95 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 176 completions
2. Social Sciences, Other: 88 completions
3. Law: 85 completions
4. Business Administration and Management, General: 83 completions
5. Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language/ESL Language Instructor: 68 completions
6. Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other: 68 completions
7. Educational Psychology: 62 completions
8. Social Work: 52 completions
9. Psychology, General: 50 completions
Most popular programs at University of Southern Maine.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for University of Southern Maine graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for University of Southern Maine from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 39.9%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,420
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,101
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
University of Southern Maine is a public institution located in Portland, ME, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Social Sciences, Other, Law. Enrollment is approximately 4,222 students. Student body composition includes White (75.2%), Black or African American (8.6%), Two or More Races (4.7%). The admission rate is 79.23%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1116. The 150%-time completion rate is 40.35%. Approximately 28.28% of students receive Pell Grants. About 32.8% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Portland, ME 04103
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 95 distinct degree programs, University of Southern Maine provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is University of Southern Maine located?
University of Southern Maine is located in Portland, ME.
What is University of Southern Maine's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at University of Southern Maine is 79.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 5,823 applicants and 4,618 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does University of Southern Maine cost?
Reported tuition is $11,284 and average net price is $13,596 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $12,280 annually.
What is the student body demographics at University of Southern Maine?
University of Southern Maine reports undergraduate enrollment of about 6,885 students, White (75.2%), Black or African American (8.6%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend University of Southern Maine?
About 32.8% of students at University of Southern Maine are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for University of Southern Maine?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, University of Southern Maine reports midpoint SAT about 1116 and midpoint ACT about 22.
What do graduates of University of Southern Maine earn?
Median earnings are $47,107 six years after entry and $49,958 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at University of Southern Maine?
The 150%-time completion rate is 40.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do University of Southern Maine students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $19,060.
Is University of Southern Maine public or private?
University of Southern Maine is a public institution located in Portland, ME.
Is University of Southern Maine an HBCU?
No. University of Southern Maine is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is University of Southern Maine a tribal college?
No. University of Southern Maine is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Maine college costs
- Maine colleges by ROI
- Portland, Maine city profile
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Maine
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.