A Promise to Maine Students
USM’s Promise Scholarship transforms lives by supporting talented, first-generation Maine students who face significant financial barriers. The scholarship embodies USM’s institutional promise: that every qualified student should have access to an exceptional education, regardless of economic background. Beyond financial aid, Scholars have access to a comprehensive suite of supports, leading to increased student retention and improved graduation outcomes. Promise is an investment in the future of Maine: our students, our workforce and our communities.
With your support, we can keep the promise of Promise. Help us raise $20 million for the Promise Scholarship Endowment, ensuring the program’s future for generations to come.
A scholarship . . . and so much more
Since 2018, the program has invested over $1.5 million in direct student aid to 151 low-income and first-generation college students from Maine, representing 46 high schools and all 16 counties. Promise not only meets students’ financial aid needs, it provides a robust support system that fosters academic success and personal growth.
It doesn’t matter where you are from, how you started, or the experiences you bring. What matters is who you become when you leave. My three years as a Promise Scholar at USM have been transformative and some of the best of my life.
In my sophomore year, Covid was really intense. I don’t know what would have happened if I didn’t have the mentoring support, the flexibility and the resources I needed to take care of myself and focus on my classes. With Promise, there are extra factors that help you thrive, get that degree, and have a future…more
