Public Universities and Colleges in Maine: Systems, Flagships and How Admission Works
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Apr 11, 2026 • US States & Cities
Maine runs two public systems: the University of Maine System with 7 universities and the Maine Community College System with 7 colleges. The flagship is the University of Maine in Orono, which admits about 97% of applicants and is test optional.
🎓 University of Maine (Orono) is the flagship, with roughly 12,000 students and 97% admission
University of Southern Maine in Portland and Gorham admits about 79% of applicants
University of Maine at Augusta has open admission, no minimum GPA or test score to get in
4 more regional UMS campuses cover Farmington, Fort Kent, Machias and Presque Isle
7 Maine Community College System colleges offer 2-year degrees and transfer paths
⏱️ Early Action deadline at UMaine is December 1, regular deadline is March 1
Two public systems in Maine
Public higher education in Maine splits into two systems. The University of Maine System (UMS) runs 7 universities plus the University of Maine School of Law, and awards associate through doctoral degrees. The Maine Community College System (MCCS) runs 7 two-year colleges built around career training and transfer to a four-year school.
You do not apply to "the system". Each campus runs its own admission process, even though tuition, transfer credit and some financial aid rules are set at the system level.
University of Maine System: the flagship and 6 regional campuses
The University of Maine System covers the whole state:
University of Maine (Orono), the flagship, offering the widest range of majors, research programs and NCAA Division I athletics
University of Southern Maine (Portland and Gorham), the second largest, strong in nursing, business and the arts
University of Maine at Augusta, with open admission and a large online and adult-learner population
University of Maine at Farmington, a smaller campus known for teacher preparation
University of Maine at Fort Kent, serving the St. John Valley in far northern Maine
University of Maine at Machias, a small coastal campus with marine and environmental programs
University of Maine at Presque Isle, serving Aroostook County in the north
The University of Maine School of Law, based in Portland, is the state's only public law school and admits separately from the undergraduate campuses.
The flagship: University of Maine in Orono
University of Maine enrolls about 12,000 students, split roughly between 9,600 undergraduates and 2,400 graduate students, according to federal College Navigator data . The campus admitted about 97% of applicants in fall 2024, and admission is test optional: you send a transcript and a letter of recommendation, and standardized test scores are not required.
Apply through the Common App or the ApplyMaine App . Early Action closes December 1, which gets you a decision early and puts you in line for the most scholarship money. The regular deadline is March 1, and the campus reviews applications on a rolling basis after that.
Regional campuses: smaller, often open admission
University of Southern Maine is the next largest UMS campus, with about 7,600 students and an admission rate near 79% for fall 2024 applicants, per College Navigator . It fits students who want a mid-size campus close to Portland's job market, with strong nursing and business programs.
University of Maine at Augusta has open admission: if you have a high school diploma or equivalent, you get in, with about 4,400 students according to federal data , many studying online or part time. Farmington, Fort Kent, Machias and Presque Isle are smaller campuses that work well if you want low student to faculty ratios, a close-knit campus, or a location near home in a rural county.
Maine Community College System: 7 colleges statewide
The Maine Community College System runs 7 colleges: Central Maine Community College (Auburn), Eastern Maine Community College (Bangor), Kennebec Valley Community College (Fairfield), Northern Maine Community College (Presque Isle), Southern Maine Community College (South Portland), Washington County Community College (Calais), and York County Community College (Wells).
Each college has open admission and offers associate degrees and certificates in fields like nursing, culinary arts, welding and information technology, plus transfer tracks into UMS bachelor's programs. MCCS reports that 79% of degree-seeking students have their tuition fully covered through grants and scholarships, so cost should not be the reason you skip a community college start.
Choosing the right campus
| If you want | Look at |
|---|---|
| The widest majors and research options | University of Maine (Orono) |
| A mid-size city campus near Portland jobs | University of Southern Maine |
| Guaranteed admission, online or adult-friendly | University of Maine at Augusta |
| A small, close-knit campus near home | Farmington, Fort Kent, Machias or Presque Isle |
| Low cost, career training or a 2-year start | Any of the 7 MCCS colleges |
Most MCCS colleges have transfer agreements into UMS campuses, so starting at a community college and moving to University of Maine or University of Southern Maine for your bachelor's degree is a standard, low-cost path.
Applying as a transfer student
All UMS campuses accept transfer applicants year round through the same Common App or ApplyMaine App channels used by first-year students. Send your college transcript alongside your high school transcript, and ask your target campus which of your completed courses count toward your new major before you commit, since transfer credit review happens campus by campus.
Dual enrollment and early college
Maine high school students can take UMS or MCCS courses for college credit while still in high school through early college programs run at each campus. If you are still in high school, ask your guidance counselor which nearby UMS or MCCS campus runs early college courses, since starting college credit before you graduate shortens both your time to degree and your total tuition bill.
University of Maine School of Law
The University of Maine School of Law in Portland is the state's only public law school and runs a separate admission process from the undergraduate campuses, built around the LSAT and a JD application through LSAC. If law school is your goal, plan your undergraduate major and GPA with that separate admission cycle in mind.