Maine USM vs Western Connecticut State University (WCSU)

Envision yourself pursuing higher education at either the University of Southern Maine (USM) or Western Connecticut State University (WCSU). Both institutions offer distinct experiences, catering to diverse student aspirations. USM boasts a higher acceptance rate, welcoming a broader range of applicants, while WCSU maintains a slightly more selective admissions process. When it comes to academic pursuits, USM excels in fields like Business, Education, and Nursing, whereas WCSU shines in areas such as Business, Health Professions, and Psychology. Explore the vibrant student life at USM, where undergraduates make up the majority, or immerse yourself in the more balanced undergraduate and graduate student population at WCSU. Discover the nuances that set these universities apart, and make an informed decision about your academic journey by delving into the comprehensive comparison table provided.
University of Southern Maine logo

University of Southern Maine

Western Connecticut State University logo

Western Connecticut State University

Overview

Location Portland, Maine Danbury, Connecticut
Campus setting City: Small 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 65.0% 69.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 87.0% 84.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 995 - 1230 N/A
ACT range 19 - 24 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 18.0%
Students submitting ACT score 1.0%
Total number of applicants 5,397 4,688
Total number of admissions given out 4,695 3,978
Admitted students who chose to enroll 895 733
Yield rate 19.1% 18.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $23,842

Out of state: $37,842
In state: $28,783

Out of state: $42,187
Average net price $9,793 $15,660
Tuition
In state: $8,064

Out of state: $22,064
In state: $6,162

Out of state: $18,436
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,460

Meal plan: $4,980
Room/dormitory: $8,020

Meal plan: $5,856
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

92.0%
Average amount $8,886
78.0%
Average amount $6,312
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $4,969
58.0%
Average amount $7,417
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $10,975
5.0%
Average amount $12,388

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,956
Men 40.6% Women 59.4%
4,172
Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Graduate students 2,040
Men 25.3% Women 74.7%
630
Men 25.4% Women 74.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students 23.4% 28.6%
International students 1.2% 0.4%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 1,189 1,315
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Maine New Hampshire Mississippi Vermont Connecticut Connecticut New York New Jersey Mississippi Maine

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Legal Profession
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 34.5% 52.9%
Dropout rate 33.0% 12.0%
Transferred out 30.0% 31.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,081
  • Year 2: $75,104
  • Year 3: $76,468
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,332
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $70,455
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,994
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $65,192
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $58,464
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,944
  • Year 2: $46,321
  • Year 3: $51,949
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,260
  • Year 2: $41,464
  • Year 3: $50,288
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,672
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,639
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,963
  • Year 2: $45,340
  • Year 3: $47,607
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,029
  • Year 2: $41,441
  • Year 3: $44,462
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,205
  • Year 2: $35,877
  • Year 3: $43,291

Compare Similar Colleges

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