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University of Southern Maine

Portland, United States

  • Cost of Living$ 20,928
  • Tuition Fee From$ 21,390
  • Country Rank#649
  • Batch Strength7,996
  • Global Diversity-
  • Gender Ratio-

Overview

About

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public university located in the state of Maine in the United States. It was established in 1878 as Gorham Normal School, and over the years it has evolved and expanded to become one of the largest universities in Maine. There are three campuses in the state of Maine: Gorham, Portland and Lewiston-Auburn. The main campus is in Portland, Maine. 

 

The University of Southern Maine's Lewiston-Auburn campus is the newly opened of the three campuses. Lewiston-Auburn College is its name. (USM LAC). USM LAC is dedicated to being a national leader in interdisciplinary education, acting as a community resource, and making degree programmes adaptive to changing social and workplace demands and access to a non-traditional and varied student body. 

 

USM offers over 53 major and 82 minor degree programmes and 26 graduate degree programmes in a variety of fields, including arts and humanities, business, education, health sciences, natural and social sciences, and technology. The university is known for its strong programs in nursing, teacher education, and social work. Moreover, the university has professional and online courses. The online courses are available for students in 3 formats which are: asynchronous, synchronous and blended. 

 

For undergraduate students interested in graduate school, the university offers a variety of Accelerated Graduate Paths. These routes enable students to commence graduate studies while still completing their bachelor's degree. Detailed graduate certificates are available in the fields of education and nursing. Professional and continuing education, transdisciplinary, and pre-college programmes are also offered for high school students.

 

USM is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and it is a member of the University of Maine System. The university has a diverse student body of 5,956  students from over 70 countries. It is committed to providing a high-quality, affordable education to all of its students.

Ranking

In the year 2024 many rankings were published of University of South Maine. Primarily mentioned here are the ones given by US News. The university is ranked as #144 in Best Regional Universities in the North by this publication. South Maine was also placed #52 among Top Public Schools by US News and World Report. It maintained #119 in Top Performers on Social Mobility. Given below are some other prominent rankings by Scimago, Webometrics, Wall Street Journal and Payscale: 

 

  • #1158 - Best Colleges In Nation - College Factual 2024
  • #7 - Best Colleges In Maine - College Factual 2024
  • #585 - Best Value Colleges - Niche 2024

Year

QS Ranks

US News Ranks

2023

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Facilities

The Oakdale neighbourhood of Maine is where the main Portland campus is situated. The Wishcamper Centre, the Osher Map Library and Smith Centre for Cartographic Education, Hannaford Hall, Luther Bonney Hall, and other buildings are also located on the Portland campus. Several department offices are positioned around the campus centre in renovated multi-story residences as well as major buildings. Given below are some of the other facilities on-campus

 

Library - The major library on the Portland campus is the Albert Brenner Glickman Family Library. It contains the Osher Map Library. The Jean Byers Sampson Centre for Diversity in Maine is housed there, and the current collections reflect the African American, Jewish, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender populations. The library also contains a rare collection of books, with a focus on pre-war New England textbooks. 

 

On-campus Residence - The Portland campus does not provide residence halls although students can avail of these facilities on the Gorham campus. They provide wireless internet access, campus card access to the halls, free laundry services, dresser, desk, standard twin beds, closets or wardrobes and many others here. Some of the residence halls are Upton Hastings Hall, Robie Andrews Hall, Anderson Hall and others. 

 

Dining facilities - There are basic dining facilities at the campus which can be found at Luther Bonney hall, Hungry Huskies food truck and delicious Bento Sushi at Payton hall. The menus here keep changing along with various meal plans catering to vegans, vegetarians and those who prefer halal or gluten-free food. 

Notable Alumni

Spencer Albee
Spencer Albee
American Musician
John Currier
John Currier
Former Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard
Michael F. Brennan
Michael F. Brennan
Maine State Representative

Courses

Admission

Acceptance Rate

University of Southern Maine acceptance rate stands at 85% for the 2024 intake. This is a clear indication that the university accepts 87 students out of every 100 applications they receive. Therefore, getting here would be much easier and all you need to do is score the right numbers and submit the necessary documents on time. 

 

For the 2022-23 academic year, the University of Southern Maine accepted 85.43% of applicants, with a yield (enrollment rate) of 15.86%. The university received 5,544 applications, with 2,102 from men and 3,442 from women. It accepted 1,702 men and 3,034 women. Out of those accepted, 309 men and 442 women enrolled at the university for Fall 2022. 



Entry Requirements

The admissions requirements are the same for all candidates, regardless of whether they are returning students re-enrolling after a hiatus, undergraduate students seeking postgraduate status, or first-time applicants to this university. Both first-year students and returning students are exempt from the university's requirement that they pay an application fee. A minimum GPA of 3.16 on a minimum scale of 4.0 is required for international students. Each candidate must submit the documents given below: 

 

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

  • Official Academic Transcripts of High School
  • Letter (s) of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Proof of financial support
  • Passport
  • Two passport-sized photographs
  • Minimum English Test Scores - TOEFL (79) or IELTS (6.5)

 

Graduate Admission Requirements

  • Official Academic Transcripts of College
  • Letter (s) of recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Proof of financial support
  • Passport
  • Two passport-sized photographs
  • CAS statement
  • Minimum English Test Scores - TOEFL (79) or IELTS (6.5)
  • Test scores or GRE/ GMAT if asked by the university
  • Resume or CV showing work experience 

 

Fees

There are a number of multidisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at this university. Students have to keep in mind the fees of these courses, whose information is given below: 

  • M.B.A - $37,500 /Yr
  • M.B.A Health Management and Policy - $37,500 /Yr
  • M.B.A Sustainability - $37,500 /Yr
  • M.B.A Business Analytics - $37,500 /Yr
  • M.B.A Finance - $37,500 /Yr
  • M.B.A Engineering - $37,500 /Yr

 

Placements

The Career & Employment Centre helps students in planning their future. It supports individuals with job exploration, self-evaluation, resume and cover letter writing, internship selection, interviewing skills, and other activities. USM graduates earn an average annual salary of $65,000. The starting compensation for an entry-level position is $48,500.

Scholarship

These are the various scholarships which students can avail of at the University of Southern Maine: 

 

Name Of The Scholarship

Amount

Dirigo Scholar Award

$10,000

President’s Scholar Award

$12,000

USM scholar award

$8,000


 

UniScholars is dedicated to supporting students in achieving their academic aspirations affordably. They offer a variety of scholarships tailored to different fields and backgrounds, aiming to make higher education accessible to all. With UniScholars, aspiring scholars can find the financial support they need to pursue their dreams without undue burden.

Finances

Most international students are obligated to show proof of sufficient funds to obtain a visa. While some students may have the opportunity to make use of scholarships, not all students cut the eligibility to get a scholarship or a grant. Moreover, not all scholarships cover 100% of your study abroad expenses. At such times, most students resort to acquiring education loans to avoid the financial hassles associated with studying at the University of Southern Maine. For Indian students, UniCreds is the ideal education loan marketplace if you’re looking for low-interest rates and free consultation services!

Accommodation

There are several student housing options available for students planning to attend the University of Southern Maine. You may select from a wide choice of affordable yet elegant student flats, halls of residence, studios, en-suites, and more! You have the option of staying on campus in the university halls of residence or a private residence. Because of their proximity to the university, on-campus housing options may be ideal; nevertheless, they tend to fill up fast and are more expensive.

 

UniAcco simplifies the process of finding student housing and offers a variety of options. As a result, students can select from a wide range of available student accommodations near the university, such as luxury studios, en-suites, and shared apartments that are more inexpensive and student-friendly.

Cost of Living

Portland, Oregon is known for its vibrant student culture, with several universities and colleges in the area. One of the defining characteristics of this city is that it houses the prestigious University of Southern Maine. Portland has a reputation for being a "green" city, and many students are passionate about reducing their carbon footprint and promoting sustainability in their everyday lives. Another aspect of student culture in Portland is its emphasis on local food and drink. It is known for its craft beer scene, and many students enjoy exploring the city's numerous breweries and bars. Moving here is definitely a boon as the cost of living is also fairly affordable in all aspects. When it comes to living here, the following fees must be considered:


 

Particulars

Cost (Monthly)

Off-Campus Accommodation 

$1,033

On-Campus Accommodation

$1,650

Transportation

$130

Food Cost

$375

Utility Cost

$164

Entertainment

$48

Groceries

$60

Clothes

$98

Health Insurance

$80

Total Cost of Living with Off-Campus Accommodation 

$1,988

Total Cost of Living with On-Campus Accommodation 

$2,605

Annual Cost of Living

$23,856

FAQs