University of Southern Maine (USM) : Overview, Courses, Scholarships & Rankings
About University of Southern Maine
Set in Portland where the working waterfront meets the arts district, the University of Southern Maine pairs city energy with practical academics. It's known for strengths in the arts, health fields, education, business, public service, and the sciences, with hands-on work tied to community needs. Students use libraries, labs, studios, performance spaces, a lively student center, and fitness facilities. Advising, tutoring, counseling, accessibility, and first-gen and veteran support are easy to reach.
Campus life feels collaborative and down-to-earth. Commuters and residents mix at clubs, open mics, volunteer projects, intramurals, and quick trips to beaches and trails. Career prep shows up through internships, clinical placements, and service-learning with hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and creative firms. And the city helps, with coffee spots, galleries, and a food scene students talk about. Distinguishing traits include a tight link to Portland and traditions like home games and arts showcases that bring people together.
Key Institutional Details
Contact & Profile
Academic & Institutional
Academic Programs & Fields of Study
University of Southern Maine (USM) offers 94 degree programs across 27 major academic fields, graduating approximately 1,800 students annually. The most popular fields by graduate volume are Health (13 programs, 384 graduates), Education (16 programs, 328 graduates), Business (13 programs, 235 graduates), Social Sciences (9 programs, 172 graduates) and Law (2 programs, 118 graduates). Explore program details, award levels, and graduate demographics below.
Health (13 programs, 384 graduates)
Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | 176 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.3801 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment Professions | 68 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.0999 |
| Occupational Therapy | 34 |
|
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
51.2306 |
| Public Health | 29 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
51.2201 |
| Nursing Education | 25 |
|
Master's
|
51.3203 |
| Family Practice Nursing | 12 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
51.3805 |
| Nursing Administration | 11 |
|
Master's
|
51.3802 |
| Health Professions and Related Sciences | 11 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
51.9999 |
| Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing | 7 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
51.3810 |
| Geriatric Nursing | 4 |
|
Master's
|
51.3821 |
| Athletic Training | 3 |
|
Master's
|
51.0913 |
| Therapeutic Recreation | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
51.2309 |
| Health Services Administration | 1 |
|
Master's
|
51.2211 |
Education (16 programs, 328 graduates)
Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English as a Second Language (ESL) Teaching | 68 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13.1401 |
| Special Education Teaching | 49 |
|
Master's
|
13.1001 |
| School Counseling and Guidance | 37 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13.1101 |
| Multiple Level Teacher Education | 32 |
|
Master's
|
13.1206 |
| Educational Leadership and Administration | 31 |
|
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13.0401 |
| Reading Teacher Education | 24 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
13.1315 |
| Adult and Continuing Education | 19 |
|
Master's
|
13.1201 |
| Curriculum and Instruction | 18 |
|
Master's
|
13.0301 |
| Elementary Education | 18 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1202 |
| Elementary and Middle School Administration | 9 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.0408 |
| Music Teacher Education | 9 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1312 |
| Art Education | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1302 |
| Technology and Industrial Arts Teacher Education | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
13.1309 |
| Multicultural Education | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.0202 |
| Gifted and Talented Education | 1 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
13.1004 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development | 1 |
|
Master's
|
13.1299 |
Business (13 programs, 235 graduates)
Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | 83 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0201 |
| Organizational Leadership | 34 |
|
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
Other Award
|
52.0213 |
| Marketing Management | 31 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1401 |
| Finance, General | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0801 |
| Accounting | 25 |
|
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
52.0301 |
| Tourism and Travel Management | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0903 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 6 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.1399 |
| Insurance Studies | 6 |
|
Other Award
|
52.1701 |
| Logistics and Supply Chain Management | 4 |
|
Bachelor's
|
52.0203 |
| Nonprofit and Organizational Management | 4 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0206 |
| Business Administration and Management | 3 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.0299 |
| Organizational Behavior | 3 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
52.1003 |
| Meeting and Event Planning | 1 |
|
Other Award
|
52.0907 |
Social Sciences (9 programs, 172 graduates)
Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Sciences | 88 |
|
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
45.9999 |
| Political Science and Government | 27 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1001 |
| Criminology | 16 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0401 |
| Economics | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0601 |
| Sociology | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.1101 |
| Cultural Anthropology | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0204 |
| Geography | 4 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
45.0799 |
| Social Sciences | 2 |
|
Postbac Cert.
|
45.0101 |
| Geographic Information Science and Cartography | 1 |
|
Bachelor's
|
45.0702 |
Law (2 programs, 118 graduates)
Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law | 85 |
|
Doctorate (P)
|
22.0101 |
| Legal Research and Professional Studies | 33 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
22.0299 |
Psychology (3 programs, 116 graduates)
Psychological Sciences, Mental Health and Behavioral Studies
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Psychology | 62 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
42.2806 |
| General Psychology | 50 |
|
Bachelor's
|
42.0101 |
| School Psychology | 4 |
|
Doctorate (R)
|
42.2805 |
Public Services (2 programs, 81 graduates)
Public Administration, Social Work and Community Services
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | 52 |
|
Bachelor's
Master's
|
44.0701 |
| Public Policy Analysis | 29 |
|
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
44.0501 |
English (3 programs, 52 graduates)
English Literature, Creative Writing and Literary Analysis
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature | 30 |
|
Bachelor's
|
23.0101 |
| Creative Writing | 19 |
|
Master's
|
23.1302 |
| Professional and Technical Writing | 3 |
|
Other Award
|
23.1303 |
Communication (2 programs, 44 graduates)
Media Communications, Journalism and Public Relations
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speech Communication and Rhetoric | 24 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0101 |
| Mass Communication and Media Studies | 20 |
|
Bachelor's
|
09.0102 |
Arts (8 programs, 43 graduates)
Fine Arts, Design Studies and Creative Performance
| Program Name | Graduates | Gender Distribution | Award Levels | CIP Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music Performance | 13 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0903 |
| Theatre Arts | 8 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0501 |
| Art Studies | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0701 |
| Studio Arts, General | 7 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0702 |
| Music | 3 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0901 |
| Painting | 2 |
|
Bachelor's
|
50.0708 |
| Music Pedagogy | 2 |
|
Master's
|
50.0912 |
| Conducting | 1 |
|
Master's
|
50.0906 |
Admission Requirements & Test Scores
Comprehensive overview of admission criteria, standardized test score ranges, and application requirements for prospective students at University of Southern Maine (USM).
Application Requirements
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Test score ranges represent the middle 50% of admitted students (25th-75th percentile). Requirements may vary by program.
Tuition, Fees & Estimated Costs
Overview of tuition rates, housing, and other annual education expenses for undergraduate and graduate students
Financial Aid & Student Support
Summary of scholarships, grants, student loans, and financial aid statistics for undergraduate students
Student Success Metrics
Graduation rates and post-graduation earnings to help assess student outcomes and long-term value of education.
Loan Burden & Repayment Outcomes
Breakdown of loan repayment rates and student debt levels by income and dependency status.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about University of Southern Maine (USM)
How much does it cost to attend University of Southern Maine (USM)?
The annual tuition at University of Southern Maine (USM) is $10,920 for in-state students and $27,104 for out-of-state students. When including room and board, books, and other expenses, the total estimated cost is approximately $26,812 for in-state students and $42,996 for out-of-state students. Additional costs include room and board $11,650 and books and supplies $1,000.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2022-2023 academic year. Tuition and cost estimates are approximate and may not include all fees, personal expenses, or transportation costs.
What academic programs and degree levels does University of Southern Maine offer?
University of Southern Maine (USM) offers 94 academic programs across 27 major fields of study, with available degree levels: Associate's, Bachelor's, Postbac Cert., Master's, Post-Master's, Doctorate (Research), Doctorate (Professional), Other Award.
Most popular program areas include:
- Healthcare Professions, Medical Sciences and Clinical Practice (13 programs)
- Educational Sciences, Teaching Methods and Pedagogy (16 programs)
- Business Administration, Marketing and Entrepreneurship (13 programs)
- Sociology, Anthropology and Political Science Studies (9 programs)
- Legal Studies, Jurisprudence and Professional Law Practice (2 programs)
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated, not all offered programs.
What is the acceptance rate for University of Southern Maine?
University of Southern Maine (USM) has an 79.3% acceptance rate and a 15.5% yield rate, making it selective.
Admission statistics breakdown:
- Total applicants: 5,823
- Students admitted: 4,618
- Students enrolled: 718
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Admission statistics may vary by program and application cycle.
What financial aid and scholarships are available at University of Southern Maine?
University of Southern Maine (USM) provides financial aid to 13% of first-time, full-time students, with average grants of $10,158 and average loans of $6,997.
Average financial aid amounts by type:
- Pell grants: $5,011
- State/Local grants: $2,627
- Institutional grants: $6,701
- Federal loans: $4,902
The university supports 694 students with grants and 363 students with loans annually.
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Financial aid amounts and percentages may vary by program, enrollment status, and individual circumstances.
What is the average salary for University of Southern Maine graduates?
University of Southern Maine (USM) graduates earn a median salary of $47,107 after 6 years and $49,958 after 10 years.
The salary range 10 years after graduation spans from $29,640 (25th percentile) to $79,076 (75th percentile).
Data based on IPEDS for 2022-2023 academic year. Salary data reflects graduates who received federal financial aid (approximately 60% of all graduates). Actual earnings may vary significantly based on program, location, and individual circumstances.
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