On May 9, thousands of people packed Cross Insurance Arena for the University of Southern Maine’s 146th Commencement — families, friends, faculty, and hundreds of graduates eager to cross the stage. Here’s a look at the ceremony — and the class of 2026 — by the numbers.
7,000:
Approximate number of people inside Cross Insurance Arena for commencement
1,615:
Degrees awarded to the class of 2026
1,098:
Students registered to participate in USM’s 146th Commencement ceremony
969:
Baccalaureate degrees
572:
Master’s degrees
40:
Doctoral degrees conferred — representing the largest cohort in USM history
19 — 79:
The age range of this year’s graduating class, with an average age of 29.
387:
First-generation undergraduate students in the class of 2026
433:
Graduates with honors distinctions — cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude
109:
Undergraduate nursing degrees conferred, representing the largest single program in the class of 2026
433:
Graduates with honors distinctions — cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude
109:
Undergraduate nursing degrees conferred, representing the largest single program in the class of 2026
37:
Countries represented in the graduating class
38:
U.S. states represented
16:
Of Maine’s 16 counties represented
97:
Graduates who will continue their academic journey in a USM graduate program
65,000+
