At the University of Southern Maine (USM), our commitment to making college affordable goes beyond low tuition — we also have a variety of institutional, federal, and state financial aid programs.
Be sure to apply for financial aid each year that you’re attending the University.
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid
Funding type: Grants are awarded to undergraduate students based on demonstrated financial need and do not have to be repaid.
Types of Grants
- Federal Pell Grants
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: The amount varies each year. Visit Federal Student Aid for more information.
- Learn more about the maximum semesters of eligibility for Pell Grants.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Eligible students may be awarded between $100-$4,000 each year.
- State of Maine Grants
- Funding source: State of Maine
- Range of funding: The amount of funding varies depending on the type of grant. Visit the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) for more information.
- University Grants
- Funding source: University of Maine System
- Range of funding: Eligible students may be awarded between $100-$4,000 each year.
Funding type: Loans must be repaid. The repayment terms vary by the type of loan.
Types of Loans
- Federal Nursing Student Loans:
- General eligibility:
- Please note that you must be studying in our School of Nursing to receive this loan.
- Loans are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
- Funding source: The federal government, University of Maine System, and loans repaid by former borrowers.
- Range of funding: Eligible students may be awarded between $200-$2,500 each year.
- General eligibility:
- Federal Subsidized Direct Loan
- General eligibility: Loans are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Varies
- Learn more about Federal Direct Loans and funding limits.
- Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- General eligibility: This program provides access to borrowing for students who do not qualify for need-based assistance.
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Varies
- Learn more about Federal Direct Loans and funding limits.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans
- General eligibility:
- Undergraduate students themselves will not be considered for Federal Direct PLUS Loans.
- Parents of dependent undergraduate students may apply to borrow a Direct PLUS loan to help cover the student's college costs.
- A student's dependency status and cost of education are determined using US Department of Education criteria.
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Varies
- Learn more about Federal Direct PLUS Loans.
- General eligibility:
- Alternative Loans
- Your financial aid package will include information on how to apply for an alternative loan.
- Funding source: Varies
- Range of funding: Varies
- Learn more about Alternative Loans.
- Funding type: Work study is an excellent way to offset the cost of tuition while also developing career skills. Work-study funds are earned through part-time on-campus work and don’t have to be repaid.
- Funding source: The federal government and the University of Maine System
- Range of funding: Eligible undergraduate students can earn between $600-$2,800 each year
- How to be considered: There are many different types of scholarships, with a broad range of eligibility requirements.
- Merit scholarships are awarded through the admissions process and are based on your prior academic performance.
- We encourage you to apply for additional scholarships.
- Funding type: Scholarships offer valuable financial aid you don’t have to repay later.
- Funding source: Generous donations from our alumni, the business community, and ongoing financial investments in our students from University resources.
- Range of funding: Varies
Graduate Student Financial Aid
- Funding type: Work-study funds are earned through part-time on-campus work and don’t have to be repaid.
- Funding source: The federal government and the University of Maine System.
- Range of funding: Eligible graduate students may earn between $500-$4,500 each year.
- How to be considered: You can apply for graduate assistantships both before and after being admitted to a graduate degree program at the University.
- Funding type: A Graduate Assistantship is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable work experience and develop professional skills while earning funds that do not have to be repaid. These positions include Graduate, Research, and Teaching Assistantships.
- Funding source: Graduate Assistantships are funded by the University of Maine System, research grants from Maine State agencies and organizations, international and national foundations, and federal agencies and national organizations.
- Range of funding: Eligible graduate students may earn a stipend ranging from $4,500-$11,250 each year. Some graduate assistantships offer tuition assistance.
Funding type: Loans must be repaid. The repayment terms vary by the type of loan.
Types of Loans
- Federal Nursing Student Loans
- General eligibility:
- Please note that you must be studying in our School of Nursing to receive this loan.
- Loans are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
- Funding source: The federal government, University of Maine System, and loans repaid by former borrowers.
- Range of funding: Eligible students may be awarded between $200-$2,500 each year.
- General eligibility:
- Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan
- General eligibility: If you do not qualify for need-based financial aid, you may be eligible for this loan program.
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Varies
- Learn more about Federal Direct Loans and funding limits.
- Federal Direct PLUS Loans
- General eligibility: USM graduate and University of Maine School of Law students may apply for a Federal Direct PLUS Loan.
- Funding source: Federal government
- Range of funding: Varies
- How to be considered: There are many different types of scholarships, with a broad range of eligibility requirements.
- Merit scholarships are awarded through the admissions process and are based on your prior academic performance.
- We encourage you to apply for additional scholarships.
- Funding type: Scholarships offer valuable financial aid you don’t have to repay later.
- Funding source: Generous donations from our alumni, the business community, and ongoing financial investments in our students from University resources.
- Range of funding: Varies