UMaine: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Officially University of Maine · Orono, Maine · Public · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
Admission at a glance
Common Data Set 2024-2025
- Test-optional
- 14,044
- Applicants
- 13,572
- Admitted97%
- 2,093
- Enrolled
- 15%
- Yield rate
Selectivity
Open access97% admittedRanked #262 (tie) in National Universities; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #128 (tie), Business Programs #149 (tie), Computer Science #155 (tie), Nursing #94 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by University of Maine, read on 2026-06-14.
Is UMaine a reach, target or safety for your student?
Enter a GPA and course load and the calculator places UMaine against it in about a minute. No account needed.
UMaine is a public university in Orono, Maine that admits about 97% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $17,510 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 55% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.4 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
UMaine is a public institution located in Orono, Maine. For the most recent reporting cycle, UMaine admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 97%. Admitted students typically post a median SAT of 1190 and an ACT composite around 26. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $17,510 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for UMaine?
59% of enrolled students at UMaine had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.49, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
Compare UMaine with the other schools on your list
Open UMaine in College Search to set it beside up to three other colleges on cost, admission odds and outcomes, and save it to a shortlist when you are ready.
What does UMaine weight in admissions?
UMaine reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
Very Important
3- Rigor of secondary school record
- Class rank
- Academic GPA
Important
2- Application essay
- Recommendations
Considered
6- Interview
- Extracurricular activities
- Talent/ability
- Character/personal qualities
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Not Considered
7- Standardized test scores
- First generation status
- Alumni/ae relation
- Geographical residence
- State residency
- Religious affiliation/commitment
- Level of applicant's interest
SAT and ACT scores UMaine typically admits
Many applicants here submit scores; even slightly below the average can be competitive when combined with a strong GPA and curriculum.
| 25th percentile | 1060 |
| 50th percentile | 1190 |
| 75th percentile | 1280 |
| % submitting SAT | 16% |
| 25th percentile | 21 |
| 50th percentile | 26 |
| 75th percentile | 30 |
| % submitting ACT | 2% |
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • No application fee and no standardized tests needed; decisions in as little as three days.
- • Checked for Fall 2027 applicants on UMaine's admissions site. Policies change; confirm before you apply.
Where admitted students ranked in their high school class
Class rank distribution gives parents a clear sense of how academically dominant a typical admitted student was within their own high school cohort, often a more meaningful signal than absolute GPA.
| Top 10% of class | 18% |
| Top 25% of class | 43% |
| Top 50% of class | 76% |
| % submitting class rank | 49% |
How much does UMaine actually cost?
Published tuition is $13,326 for in-state students and $36,756 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $13,410 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $17,510 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 23% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | — |
| Room and board | — |
| Average net price (after aid) | $17,510 |
| Share of financial need metaverage, for students with need | 78% |
| Average need-based grant | $14,359 |
| Average merit award, no financial need739 first-year students received one | $9,432 |
| Graduates who borrowed | 64% |
| Average debt at graduationamong those who borrowed | $34,784 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
| Application fee | — |
Application deadlines and early decision data for UMaine
| Notification date | Rolling beginning Oct 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 or within 2 weeks if notified thereafter |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
Will my child graduate from UMaine?
These predict outcomes at UMaine better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at UMaine
The most popular undergraduate programs at UMaine, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. Across all programs, UMaine confers roughly 732 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business Administration, Management and Operations program report a median income of about $62,799 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 118 | $62,799 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 111 | $87,105 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 94 | $77,342 |
| Psychology, General | 90 | $44,274 |
| Marketing | 87 | $64,199 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 78 | $42,684 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 77 | $50,136 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 77 | $66,565 |
Is UMaine safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), UMaine disclosed 20 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.4 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 17 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at UMaine?
About 42% of undergraduates at UMaine live in campus housing, so a meaningful share of students commute or live off campus. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in Maine parents ask about
Colleges that admit at a similar rate
Next steps for UMaine
Common questions parents ask about UMaine
What GPA do I need for UMaine?
59% of enrolled students at UMaine had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.49, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does UMaine typically admit?
UMaine does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does UMaine actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at UMaine after grants and scholarships is $17,510 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $13,326 and $36,756 out of state. Budget against the net figure.
Is UMaine realistic for my child?
UMaine admits 97% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $17,510 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at UMaine?
UMaine accepts about 97% of applicants out of roughly 14,044 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is UMaine test-optional?
Yes. UMaine is test-optional for Fall 2027 applicants, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at UMaine?
About 55% of students at UMaine graduate within six years. 83% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does UMaine look for in applicants?
UMaine rates course rigor, class rank and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is UMaine a public or private school, and where is it located?
UMaine is a public institution located in Orono, Maine.
What are the most popular majors at UMaine?
The largest undergraduate majors at UMaine by annual graduates are Business Administration, Management and Operations, Mechanical Engineering and Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. The school awards about 732 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is UMaine safe? What is its campus crime rate?
UMaine reported 20 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.4 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at UMaine?
At UMaine, 42% of undergraduates live on campus, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by University of Maine, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers