University of New England (UNE) vs Maine USM

When it comes to higher education in Maine, two prominent universities that often draw comparisons are the University of New England (UNE) and the University of Southern Maine (USM). While both institutions offer a wide range of academic programs and opportunities, they differ in several key aspects. UNE, a private university located in Biddeford, boasts a smaller student body and a higher acceptance rate compared to USM, a public university in Portland. UNE is renowned for its strong programs in health sciences, marine sciences, and pharmacy, while USM excels in fields such as business, education, and nursing. Additionally, UNE's student body is more diverse, with a higher percentage of international students, while USM has a larger population of undergraduate students. To help you make an informed decision about your higher education journey, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and available financial aid options.
University of New England logo

University of New England

University of Southern Maine logo

University of Southern Maine

Overview

Location Biddeford, Maine Portland, Maine
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 76.0% 65.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.0% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $40

Graduate: $40
SAT range N/A 995 - 1230
ACT range N/A 19 - 24
Students submitting SAT score 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 1.0%
Total number of applicants 4,765 5,397
Total number of admissions given out 4,288 4,695
Admitted students who chose to enroll 595 895
Yield rate 13.9% 19.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $54,570
In state: $23,842

Out of state: $37,842
Average net price $36,261 $9,793
Tuition $38,420
In state: $8,064

Out of state: $22,064
Room & board $15,650
Room/dormitory: $5,460

Meal plan: $4,980
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $21,394
92.0%
Average amount $8,886
Students receiving federal student loan 84.0%
Average amount $4,819
45.0%
Average amount $4,969
Students taking out private loans 31.0%
Average amount $21,463
6.0%
Average amount $10,975

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,671
Men 30.6% Women 69.4%
5,956
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
Graduate students 2,971
Men 26.9% Women 73.1%
2,040
Men 25.3% Women 74.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A 23.4%
International students 0.5% 1.2%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,603 1,189
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Maine New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Connecticut

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 63.1% 34.5%
Dropout rate 7.8% 33.0%
Transferred out 29.0% 30.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $194,084
  • Year 2: $182,280
  • Year 3: $205,893
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $96,794
  • Year 2: $124,217
  • Year 3: $125,326
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,345
  • Year 2: $102,919
  • Year 3: $114,087
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $74,735
  • Year 2: $86,550
  • Year 3: $91,187
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,460
  • Year 2: $68,024
  • Year 3: $74,136
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $72,545
  • Year 2: $70,344
  • Year 3: $73,964
Osteopathic Medicine/Osteopathy (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,440
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $71,046
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,915
  • Year 2: $66,922
  • Year 3: $68,977
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,714
  • Year 2: $63,806
  • Year 3: $65,354
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,443
  • Year 2: $55,651
  • Year 3: $60,813
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,041
  • Year 2: $95,169
  • Year 3: $100,726
Mechanical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,660
  • Year 2: $61,728
  • Year 3: $71,074
Law (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,579
  • Year 2: $55,594
  • Year 3: $65,574
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,254
  • Year 2: $57,422
  • Year 3: $60,602
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,123
  • Year 2: $50,231
  • Year 3: $55,627
Public Policy Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,644
  • Year 3: $54,835
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,681
  • Year 2: $45,852
  • Year 3: $51,356
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,716
  • Year 2: $51,690
  • Year 3: $50,246
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,148
  • Year 2: $45,767
  • Year 3: $49,334
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,098
  • Year 2: $41,342
  • Year 3: $48,118

Compare Similar Colleges

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