Maine USM vs Plymouth State

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at either the University of Southern Maine (USM) or Plymouth State University (PSU). Both institutions offer distinct experiences, catering to diverse student aspirations. USM, located in Portland, Maine, boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of applicants. PSU, situated in Plymouth, New Hampshire, maintains a more selective admissions process. While USM excels in fields like nursing, education, and business, PSU shines in areas such as engineering, computer science, and hospitality management. USM's student body reflects a rich tapestry of ethnicities, while PSU's student population leans towards a predominantly White demographic. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, empowering students to achieve their academic goals. Delve into the comprehensive comparison table below to uncover further insights into these institutions, enabling you to make an informed decision that aligns with your unique academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Plymouth State University logo

Plymouth State University

University of Southern Maine logo

University of Southern Maine

Overview

Location Plymouth, New Hampshire Portland, Maine
Campus setting Town: Remote City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 64.0% 65.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.7% 87.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
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 6,856 5,397
Total number of admissions given out 6,285 4,695
Admitted students who chose to enroll 936 895
Yield rate 14.9% 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
In state: $29,804

Out of state: $39,744
In state: $23,842

Out of state: $37,842
Average net price $20,145 $9,793
Tuition
In state: $11,870

Out of state: $21,810
In state: $8,064

Out of state: $22,064
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,600

Meal plan: $3,980
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)

98.0%
Average amount $8,983
92.0%
Average amount $8,886
Students receiving federal student loan 79.0%
Average amount $5,237
45.0%
Average amount $4,969
Students taking out private loans 20.0%
Average amount $14,585
6.0%
Average amount $10,975

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,536
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
5,956
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
Graduate students 688
Men 28.2% Women 71.8%
2,040
Men 25.3% Women 74.7%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Very Low
Out-of-state students 7.5% 23.4%
International students 1.6% 1.2%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,561 1,189
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Hampshire Mississippi Maine Rhode Island Vermont Maine New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Connecticut

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Legal Profession
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.3% 34.5%
Dropout rate 46.3% 33.0%
Transferred out N/A 30.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,018
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $64,283
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,582
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $59,378
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,910
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $58,866
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,913
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $52,559
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $50,116
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,539
  • Year 2: $40,209
  • Year 3: $49,163
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,327
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $47,493
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,058
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $46,029
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,875
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $45,246
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,784
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $45,102
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

The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page. There, you can search for the specific colleges and initiate your comparison.
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Southern Arkansas University Main Campus
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Western Connecticut State University Western Connecticut State University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Murray State University Murray State University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs University of Maine at Farmington University of Maine at Farmington
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saint Joseph's College of Maine
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Fitchburg State University Fitchburg State University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Lesley University Lesley University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs New England College New England College
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Keene State College Keene State College
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College of Technology at Delhi SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Farmingdale State College Farmingdale State College
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY Morrisville SUNY Morrisville
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY at Albany SUNY at Albany
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Stony Brook University Stony Brook University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY Brockport SUNY Brockport
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY Cortland SUNY Cortland
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY at Fredonia SUNY at Fredonia
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College at Geneseo SUNY College at Geneseo
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY Oneonta SUNY Oneonta
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College at Oswego SUNY College at Oswego
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College at Potsdam SUNY College at Potsdam
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY at Purchase College SUNY at Purchase College
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs SUNY College at Old Westbury SUNY College at Old Westbury
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Eastern Oregon University Eastern Oregon University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Southern Oregon University Southern Oregon University
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
Plymouth State University Plymouth State vs Champlain College Champlain College
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Southern Connecticut State University Southern Connecticut State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Western Connecticut State University Western Connecticut State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Louisiana at Monroe University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Maine at Augusta University of Maine at Augusta
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Maine at Farmington University of Maine at Farmington
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Maine at Fort Kent University of Maine at Fort Kent
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Maine University of Maine
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Maine Maritime Academy Maine Maritime Academy
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Maine at Presque Isle University of Maine at Presque Isle
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Saint Joseph's College of Maine Saint Joseph's College of Maine
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs American International College American International College
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Bridgewater State University Bridgewater State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Lesley University Lesley University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Massachusetts-Lowell University of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Massachusetts-Amherst University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Western New England University Western New England University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Worcester State University Worcester State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Montana State University Billings Montana State University Billings
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Plymouth State University Plymouth State University
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs Rutgers University-Camden Rutgers University-Camden
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester University of Pennsylvania
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Rhode Island University of Rhode Island
University of Southern Maine Maine USM vs University of Wisconsin-Stout University of Wisconsin-Stout