About

About University of Southern Maine

health sciences focusaccessible admissionssmall class sizes

University of Southern Maine is a public university in Portland, ME, known for its health sciences focus, accessible admissions, and small class sizes. With an acceptance rate of 85%, USM is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 751 students each year. Admitted students typically score between 990–1237 on the SAT and 23–28 on the ACT. USM offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $8,873 per year; the sticker price of $37,819 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

University of Southern Maine acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

85%
Overall Accept Rate
3.25
Typical Admitted GPA
1114
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 990 – 1237

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to University of Southern Maine

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
USM values its role as a regional university serving the Portland and southern Maine community, so if your essays can speak to how you plan to engage with or contribute to this specific community, whether through internships, civic involvement, or career goals tied to Maine, you will stand out to admissions readers.
Application Strategy
USM has specific strengths in nursing, social work, education, and environmental science that are tied directly to Maine's workforce needs, so name your intended program clearly in your application and explain why that program at USM specifically fits your goals rather than writing a general statement about wanting a college degree.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What University of Southern Maine actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$38k/yr$10.0k
30k-48k~$38k/yr$10.8k
48k-75k~$38k/yr$12.6k
75k-110k~$38k/yr$16.8k
110k+~$38k/yr$19.2k

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Personalize this page

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

46%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$47k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
12:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
4,362
Undergrad Enrollment
University of Southern Maine Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch