University of Southern Maine Acceptance Rate
Portland, Maine · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 5,823
- Admitted
- 4,618
- Yield
- 15.5%
- Test policy
- Test scores required
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, University of Southern Maine's acceptance rate has fallen from 83.9% in 2014–15 to 79.3% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 3,781 to 5,823 (+54%) over that period.
Its 79.3% rate makes University of Southern Maine more selective than about 43% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 15 tracked Maine schools, it is more selective than about 60%.
In 2023–24, women were admitted at a higher rate (84.9% for women vs 70.8% for men, a 14.1-point gap). University of Southern Maine requires SAT/ACT scores for admission. Of admitted students, 15.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 3,781 | 3,174 | 83.9% | 737 |
| 2015–16 | 3,402 | 2,986 | 87.8% | 705 |
| 2016–17 | 4,111 | 3,299 | 80.2% | 805 |
| 2017–18 | 4,339 | 3,622 | 83.5% | 923 |
| 2018–19 | 4,254 | 3,634 | 85.4% | 947 |
| 2019–20 | 4,996 | 4,042 | 80.9% | 893 |
| 2020–21 | 4,774 | 4,198 | 87.9% | 808 |
| 2021–22 | 5,397 | 4,695 | 87% | 895 |
| 2022–23 | 5,544 | 4,736 | 85.4% | 751 |
| 2023–24 | 5,823 | 4,618 | 79.3% | 718 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,499 | 2,972 | 84.9% |
| Men | 2,324 | 1,646 | 70.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test scores required.
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 505–640 | 12% |
| SAT Math | 490–640 | |
| ACT Composite | 23–26 | 1% |
How University of Southern compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is University of Southern Maine's acceptance rate?
University of Southern Maine's acceptance rate is 79.3% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,618 admitted of 5,823 applicants).
Is University of Southern Maine test optional?
University of Southern Maine requires SAT or ACT scores for admission.
How many people apply to University of Southern Maine?
University of Southern Maine received 5,823 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,618.
What SAT score do you need for University of Southern Maine?
Admitted students at University of Southern Maine typically scored 505–640 on SAT Reading/Writing and 490–640 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is University of Southern Maine getting harder to get into?
University of Southern Maine has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 83.9% in 2014–15 to 79.3% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.usm.maine.edu/.