About University of Southern Maine · Portland, Maine
The University of Southern Maine (USM) is a public state university in the University of Maine System, not a Catholic institution. It operates two campuses — an urban campus in downtown Portland and a more residential campus in Gorham — and traces its roots to the Western State Normal School (later Gorham Normal School) opened in Gorham on December 26, 1878, and to Portland University, incorporated in 1921. The two institutions merged in 1970–71 to form the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (UMPG), which was renamed the University of Southern Maine on May 24, 1978. Catholic campus ministry on USM is provided through a Newman Club connected to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland; USM itself has no parish, no pastor, and no on-campus Catholic chapel with a regular Mass schedule.
- Established
- 1878
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland (provides Newman/campus ministry to USM; USM is not a parish of the diocese)
University of Southern Maine — Overview
The University of Southern Maine is a public institution in the University of Maine System with campuses in Portland and Gorham, plus a Lewiston-Auburn component created in 1988. Its Portland campus is urban, near Back Cove in the Oakdale neighborhood of downtown Portland; the Gorham campus is a more traditional, residential New England college setting. USM was created by the 1970–71 merger of Gorham State College and the University of Maine at Portland and has been called the University of Southern Maine since May 24, 1978.
- Type: Public university (University of Maine System)
- Campuses: Portland (urban), Gorham (residential), Lewiston-Auburn (since 1988)
- Founded: 1878 (Gorham Normal School lineage)
- President: Jacqueline Edmondson
- Fall 2024 enrollment: 6,056 students (first increase since 2019)
Founding and Predecessor Institutions
USM was formed from two distinct predecessor streams. The Gorham stream dates to December 26, 1878, when Western State Normal School — Maine's third normal school — opened with Corthell Hall, a Gothic-style building constructed for $23,170 and dedicated to teacher training. The Portland stream traces to Portland University, incorporated August 21, 1921, by CPA Earle H. Cunningham as a business and law school for working people who could not afford to leave the state for training. Portland Junior College, separately, was acquired by the University of Maine System in 1957 and became the University of Maine in Portland.
- 1878 — Western State Normal School opens in Gorham (first courses January 1879)
- 1921 — Portland University incorporated in downtown Portland
- 1957 — Portland Junior College acquired by UMaine System; becomes University of Maine in Portland
- 1970 — Trustees announce merger of Gorham State College and University of Maine at Portland
- 1971 — Fall term is first as the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham (UMPG)
- 1978 — Renamed University of Southern Maine on May 24, 1978
- 1988 — Lewiston-Auburn College established as part of USM
Campuses and Schools
The Portland campus is the urban, professional-program home of USM, while the Gorham campus is the more residential liberal-arts and education home. Together the campuses share a free bus shuttle that also serves the greater Portland area.
- Portland — Edmund Muskie School of Public Service, Bio Sciences Research Institute, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Osher Map Library, USM School of Business
- Gorham — School of Education and Human Development, Osher School of Music
- Lewiston-Auburn — established 1988 as part of USM
Catholic Presence on Campus
Although USM itself is not Catholic, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland maintains a Catholic campus ministry (Newman Club) serving USM students. The Newman Club at the Gorham campus is listed by Newman Connection as a campus-ministry partner of the Diocese of Portland (278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, Maine 04084). Historically, diocesan priests assigned to nearby parishes have served as Newman Chaplains to USM (for example, Fr. Harold Nicknair served simultaneously as pastor of St. Anne Parish in Gorham and as Newman Chaplain to USM-Gorham from 1981 to 1988; Msgr. Frank Murray also served in USM campus ministry during his active ministry). Under Bishop James Ruggieri, the diocese is fundraising to place a four-person FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionary team across southern Maine campuses including USM, SMCC, UNE-Portland, and the Roux Institute.
- Newman Club (Gorham Campus) — Diocese of Portland campus-ministry partner
- Contact for current Newman/campus ministry: Diocese of Portland, 278 Whites Bridge Road, Standish, ME 04084
- Catholic campus ministry served by diocesan priests, including Fr. Harold Nicknair (1981–88) and Msgr. Frank Murray
- Diocese of Portland FOCUS missionary initiative (2024–25) includes USM among target campuses
Religious and Spiritual Life
USM's broader religious life is coordinated through the Religious and Spiritual Life Council, an interfaith body of ordained chaplains and lay advisers sponsored by their respective faith communities. As of 2013 the council numbered 13 chaplains and advisers. Inquiries are directed to the Dean of Students at (207) 780-4035. The Interfaith Chaplaincy and Office of Community Service Learning are housed in the former 'old farmhouse' Alumni House on the Gorham campus.
- Religious and Spiritual Life Council (interfaith)
- 13 chaplains and advisers (as of 2013)
- Dean of Students — (207) 780-4035
Enrollment and Financials
After several years of decline, USM in fall 2024 reported its first enrollment increase since 2019: 6,056 students, about a 2 percent overall rise, with graduate enrollment up 5.4 percent and undergraduate transfers up 16 percent (including a 36 percent increase in transfers from the Maine Community College System). The university also closed fiscal year 2024 with a balanced budget — its first in five years without drawing on reserves — after beginning the year with a $10 million structural gap.
- Fall 2024 enrollment: 6,056 (first increase since 2019)
- Graduate enrollment up 5.4%; transfers up 16%; transfers from Maine Community College System up 36%
- FY2024 ended with a balanced budget for the first time in five years
- Southern Maine Pathways Program with SMCC facilitates credit transfer
Tuition Structure
Beginning Fall 2024, USM standardized tuition through a differential-tuition model with three levels for in-person and blended majors (Differential Levels 1, 2, and 3). Fully online programs continue to charge e-tuition. Tuition is set by primary major, residency (in-state, out-of-state, or Canadian), and mode of study (in-person, blended, or fully online).
- Differential Level 1 — Standard rate
- Differential Level 2
- Differential Level 3
- Fully online programs — e-tuition rate