Founded in 1878, the University of Southern Maine (USM) is situated in Portland—Maine’s largest city—and stands as a vital member of the University of Maine System as well as the state’s only public comprehensive university. #Copy University of Southern Maine degree. Classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a doctoral university with “High Research Activity,” the institution currently enrolls approximately 5,520 students. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, the university ensures a high-quality educational experience characterized by small class sizes.
The university features a distinctive campus layout comprising three main locations—Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston-Auburn—offering students a unique dual experience that blends urban vibrancy with rural tranquility. Where to make a University of Southern Maine diploma? In the 2026 rankings by U.S. News & World Report, USM was ranked 128th among Regional Universities North and 47th among Top Public Schools; the institution is fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
USM is organized into three core colleges: the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; the College of Management and Human Service; and the College of Science, Technology, and Health. Purchase a American University diploma. Together, these colleges offer over 100 undergraduate programs and more than 20 graduate programs. The College of Management and Human Service serves as the hub for business education, housing the School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Social Work, and the Muskie School of Public Service. Programs such as the MBA, Accounting, Finance, Business Analytics, and Sports & Esports Management are particularly popular among students.
The university boasts robust strengths in the health sciences; its School of Nursing is accredited by the CCNE, while programs in Occupational Therapy, Exercise Science, and Public Health have successfully trained a large number of healthcare professionals. Replica USM degree certificate. The STEM fields are equally prominent, with engineering programs accredited by ABET and disciplines such as Computer Science and Environmental Science & Policy closely aligned with the state’s industrial sectors. Furthermore, the university offers comprehensive degree pathways in fields including Psychology, Communication, Geography-Anthropology, and Special Education.
USM is renowned for the flexibility of its curriculum and its transfer-friendly policies. Undergraduate students have the freedom to combine majors and minors according to their personal interests; the university also offers an “Interdisciplinary Professional Studies” pathway, allowing students to select two distinct fields of study to design a personalized academic plan. A core feature of the institution is its Transfer Guarantee Policy: students who have completed an associate degree with a GPA of 2.25 or higher are guaranteed admission, a commitment reinforced by formal transfer agreements established with the Maine Community College System.
The Prior Learning Credit Policy allows for the conversion of work experience and military training into college credits, thereby maximizing the utilization of students’ existing experience. Accelerated Bachelor’s-to-Master’s programs—covering fields such as policy planning and educational psychology (e.g., the School Psychology EdS)—enable students to complete both their bachelor’s and master’s degrees within five years. The online education system is comprehensive, allowing majors in disciplines such as Social and Behavioral Sciences to be completed entirely online. With its flexible course structure and diverse learning modalities, USM stands as an ideal choice for traditional students, working professionals, and transfer students alike.
