UMaine is about as low-friction as a flagship gets. There’s no application fee, no test scores needed, and you can apply through the Common App or the free ApplyMaine app. Merit money is based on just two things: your student’s GPA and how tough their classes were. There are no essays and no separate scholarship form for the main awards.
The catch is the calendar. Almost everything that matters for money keys off one date: December 1.
Maine Top Scholars, National Merit, INSPIRE Maine (need-based)
Honors College
Honors Program Available
Residency & Waivers
NEBHE
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at UMaine (Read This First)
December 1 decides the ceiling. Apply after it and the in-state merit max drops from $10,000 to $5,000, the NEBHE max drops from $16,500 to $10,500, and out-of-state students lose their shot at the extra $3,000 to $5,000 Early Action Award.
Merit is a “commitment,” not a guaranteed extra. UMaine says part of your merit can be swapped out on the aid offer for Pell, endowed or other grants. Winning a donor scholarship later may replace merit dollars instead of adding new ones.
The merit amount is frozen while tuition climbs. Your award stays flat for four years, so the gap your family covers usually grows a little every year.
Aid assumes 15 credits. Drop below that and merit can shrink. Maine Top Scholars and National Merit awards require full-time enrollment (12+ credits).
Some majors cost more. Engineering, business and nursing courses carry extra per-credit tuition ($50 to $52 per credit), which works out to roughly $1,500 a year at a full load.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. University of Maine is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 25; SAT: 1170.
Average net price? About $16,183/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
Yes. It participates in NEBHE.
💰 Cost of Attendance at University of Maine: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest University of Maine has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly
$600 to $1,400 more than the in-state total below.$1,100 to $2,700 more than the out-of-state total below.
In-State: billed cost per year
$28,996
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$14,300
Housing & meals (typical)
$14,696
Total billed cost
$28,996
Out-of-State: billed cost per year
$54,106
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$39,410
Housing & meals (typical)
$14,696
Total billed cost
$54,106
That is $25,110 more per year than Maine residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $16,183 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
New England students (CT, MA, NH, RI, VT): If your student is admitted into a NEBHE Regional Student Program approved major, tuition drops to the regional rate ($23,160 in 2026-27 versus $38,340 standard out-of-state), and the UMaine NEBHE Distinguished Scholarship comes on top of that.
Flagship Match states: Students from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia can be priced near their home flagship's in-state rate through an automatic Flagship Match award. Students from the five New England states can land in either program, so ask admissions which one your student's major puts them in.
Other Ways the Sticker Price Changes
Canadian students pay the Maine resident rate and are considered for the Maine resident merit grid.
Military and veterans: active-duty members, honorably discharged veterans and dependents using the GI Bill are billed at the in-state rate.
Differential tuition: engineering, business and nursing courses add $50 to $52 per credit on top of base tuition.
Honors College fee: $200 per semester, waived for Pell-eligible students.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at the University of Maine
Is UMaine really free for some Maine families?
For many, yes. The INSPIRE Maine Scholarship covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for Maine residents who are Pell-eligible with an SAI under 6,655, or whose family AGI and assets come in under $75,000 on the FAFSA. You have to file the FAFSA by March 1. Housing and food are not covered, so plan for those separately.
What is Flagship Match, and is my state on the list?
Flagship Match is an automatic scholarship that prices UMaine near what your home state’s flagship charges its own residents. For fall 2027 it covers California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. Students from other states get the Flagship Leaders Commitment ($9,000 to $12,000 a year) instead.
How does the NEBHE discount work for New England students?
If your student is from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont and picks a major on UMaine’s NEBHE approved list, tuition drops to the regional rate ($23,160 in 2026-27 versus $38,340). They also get the NEBHE Distinguished Scholarship on top. Change to a major that’s not on the list and both can be adjusted.
Why is out-of-state tuition almost three times in-state?
Maine residents get the state-subsidized rate. But very few out-of-state students actually pay the full $38,340, because Flagship Match, Flagship Leaders and NEBHE awards are automatic for anyone with a 2.5 GPA or better.
Does my merit scholarship go up when tuition goes up?
No. UMaine sets the amount at admission and holds it flat for up to 8 semesters or 120 credits. Budget for the gap to grow a bit each year.
What’s not included in the direct cost table?
UMaine estimates another $1,000 a year for books and supplies and $2,200 for travel and personal costs. Housing is based on a double room and the Unlimited Flex meal plan, so singles or a different plan will change the number.
December 1: The big one. Apply by now for the maximum merit range, the Early Action Award, arts scholarships, and automatic Honors College consideration.
December 11: Maine Top Scholars application due (Maine residents, after admission).
December 31: Pulp and Paper Foundation application due (engineering).
March 1: FAFSA priority date. Required for INSPIRE Maine and most need-based aid.
May 1: Deposit, Honors RSVP, and any FAFSA verification documents due.
Parent rule of thumb: treat December 1 as your real deadline, even if your student is still deciding where to go.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at the University of Maine
UMaine awards merit at admission based on just two things: high school GPA and how rigorous the coursework was. The minimum is a 2.5 GPA. No test scores, no essays, no separate application. Which program your student lands in depends on where you live: Maine/Canada, a Flagship Match state, New England (NEBHE), or everywhere else.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automatic
Flagship Match Commitment
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$15,233–$23,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAMinimum 2.5 cumulative high school GPA. Based on GPA and rigor of coursework. Test scores are not used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Brings UMaine's out-of-state tuition down to roughly what your home state's flagship charges residents. The exact figure depends on that flagship's tuition and fees. Applying by Dec 1 may add a separate $3,000 to $5,000 Early Action Award. UMaine treats this as a dollar commitment, so grants or endowed scholarships won later can replace part of it instead of adding to it.
💡
Strategic Detail
Eligible states for Fall 2027: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia. The amount is set at admission and stays flat for up to 8 semesters or 120 credits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students from one of the 13 Flagship Match states with at least a 2.5 GPA. It matters most for families who like their home flagship's price but want their student to go somewhere new.
Automatic
Flagship Leaders Commitment
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$9,000–$12,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAMinimum 2.5 cumulative high school GPA. Based on GPA and rigor of coursework. Test scores are not used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Sits alongside other UMaine aid up to cost of attendance, and Dec 1 applicants may get an extra $3,000 to $5,000 Early Action Award. Part of the commitment can be swapped for federal, university or endowed grants on the aid offer; the total stays the same.
💡
Strategic Detail
Out-of-state merit for students who are not from a Flagship Match state. Set at admission and held flat for up to 8 semesters or 120 credits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state students from non-Flagship Match states with a 2.5+ GPA. Stronger transcripts and tougher classes land higher in the $9,000 to $12,000 band.
Automatic
Maine Scholarship Commitment
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$2,000–$10,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAMaine residents and Canadian students. Minimum 2.5 cumulative high school GPA. Based on GPA and rigor of coursework. Test scores are not used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counts toward cost of attendance with other aid. If your family also qualifies for INSPIRE Maine, merit is counted first and INSPIRE fills the gap up to full tuition and fees, so the two do not add up past that line. Part of the commitment can be replaced by other grants on the offer without changing the total.
💡
Strategic Detail
UMaine's in-state merit program. Apply by Dec 1 and the range is $2,000 to $10,000; apply later and the ceiling drops to $5,000. The FAFSA is not required for merit, but UMaine strongly encourages filing by March 1.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Almost every Maine resident or Canadian student with a 2.5+ GPA gets something. Timing sets the ceiling: a strong student who applies after Dec 1 is capped at $5,000.
Automatic
UMaine NEBHE Distinguished Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$4,500–$16,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAMust be admitted into a NEBHE Regional Student Program approved major. Minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA. Test scores are not used.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks on the NEBHE regional tuition rate. If the student's tuition rate later changes (a non-approved major, a waiver or another reciprocity deal), the scholarship is adjusted.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. They get the reduced NEBHE regional tuition rate and this scholarship on top of it.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
New England students whose intended major is on UMaine's current NEBHE list. Check the list before applying; the major is the make-or-break.
Automatic
UMaine Online Flagship Award
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$2,700–$5,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPAOut-of-state students accepted into a fully online UMaineOnline bachelor's program. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Tied to the online tuition rate. Any change to the student's tuition rate adjusts the award.
💡
Strategic Detail
Only for fully online degree students. Maine residents in online programs use the in-state merit grid instead.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Out-of-state first-year students enrolling in a UMaineOnline degree with a 2.5+ GPA.
Student must stay in good visa standing. Part of the commitment can be replaced by other grants without lowering the total.
💡
Strategic Detail
International merit of $9,000 to $12,000 per year, plus a possible $3,000 Early Action Award for Dec 1 applicants. Replaces the older International Presidential Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: International first-year applicants with a 2.5+ GPA. Stronger transcripts land higher in the band.
Automatic
Global Flagship Match Commitment
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (8 yrs)
$25,110/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
Brings the international tuition rate down to what a full-pay Maine resident pays. Part of the commitment can be replaced by other grants without lowering the total.
💡
Strategic Detail
For international students educated in Maine high schools. Award is $25,110 per year for Fall 2027, renewable up to 8 semesters or 120 credits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
International students who graduated from a Maine high school and meet UMaine's academic criteria.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Each student lands in the one program that matches their residency. Out-of-state students who apply by December 1 may also receive a separate $3,000 to $5,000 Early Action Award ($3,000 for international students). UMaine’s own merit pages still label the windows “Before/After Dec. 1, 2025”; for fall 2027 students, the date that counts is December 1, 2026.
Automatic Merit FAQs (University of Maine)
How much merit can a Maine resident get?
The Maine Scholarship Commitment runs $2,000 to $10,000 a year if you apply by December 1. After December 1, the most you can get is $5,000, no matter how strong the transcript is. Canadian students use the same grid.
How does Flagship Match work?
If you live in one of the 13 eligible states, UMaine gives an automatic award ($15,233 to $23,000 a year for fall 2027) that brings tuition close to your home flagship’s in-state price. The exact amount depends on your home flagship’s tuition and fees.
We’re out-of-state but not a Flagship Match state. What do we get?
The Flagship Leaders Commitment, worth $9,000 to $12,000 a year, plus a possible $3,000 to $5,000 Early Action Award if you apply by December 1.
Do ACT or SAT scores help with merit?
No. UMaine’s merit is based only on GPA and course rigor. Scores are optional for admission and don’t move the merit number.
Is merit renewable?
Yes, for up to 8 semesters over 4 years or 120 credits, whichever comes first. Students need to keep a minimum GPA (UMaine sends a letter with the exact number), stay enrolled at least part-time (6 credits) and make satisfactory academic progress.
Why is my merit lower on the financial aid offer than on my admission letter?
Usually it isn’t lower in total. UMaine treats merit as a dollar commitment, and some of it can be replaced by Pell, other grants or endowed scholarships on the offer. The total should match; if it doesn’t, call Student Financial Services.
Are international students eligible?
Yes. International first-years can receive Flagship Match ($16,200) or Flagship Leaders ($9,000 to $12,000), plus a $3,000 Early Action Award. International students who graduated from a Maine high school can qualify for the Global Flagship Match ($25,110), which lowers their cost to the Maine resident price.
UMaine’s big competitive awards are full tuition, not full rides. Maine Top Scholars is for Maine residents only and has its own December 11 application. National Merit is open to every residency. For engineering students, the Pulp and Paper Foundation is the sleeper: it gives more than 160 full or partial tuition scholarships a year.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at UMaine?
Aid Type
Stacks with Merit?
UMaine Parent Translation
Admission Merit
N/A
Your student gets one program based on residency: Maine Scholarship Commitment, Flagship Match, Flagship Leaders or NEBHE.
Early Action Award
Yes
An extra $3,000 to $5,000 for out-of-state students who apply by December 1.
Maine Top Scholars / National Merit
Ask
Both cover full tuition and fees. Ask admissions exactly how they’re packaged with your admission award before assuming they add up.
Donor & Department Awards
Sometimes replaces
UMaine can swap part of your merit commitment for an endowed scholarship. Great for filling gaps, but not always new money.
INSPIRE Maine
Fills the gap
Merit and grants are counted first; INSPIRE covers whatever’s left of tuition and fees. It won’t push you past that line.
Outside Scholarships
Usually
UMaine requires you to report them. Report early so your offer doesn’t get adjusted mid-year.
If your student is chasing a big competitive award, the honest truth is that UMaine’s money is mostly automatic. The competitive layer is small but generous: two full-tuition programs and one engineering foundation that funds a remarkable number of students.
Full TuitionApp Requiredgeographichonors
Maine Top Scholar Award (MTS)
📅 Deadline: Dec 11 ✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 8 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition and mandatory fees
✔ Stackable
⚠ Maine residents only; apply after admission, by Dec 11
Maine residents. A 3.7+ GPA (or 93 on a 100-point scale) is encouraged. Must be admitted first.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition and mandatory fees only. Housing, food and books still need other aid or family money. Ask admissions how it is packaged with the Maine Scholarship Commitment, since UMaine's merit is a dollar commitment that other awards can replace.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the UMaine application by Dec 1. After admission, complete the Top Scholar Application by Dec 11: a 250-word statement on your goals and fit, plus activities and a counselor or teacher recommendation if not already on file. Review starts in January.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Full tuition and mandatory fees for up to 30 credits a year, renewable four years with a 3.3 GPA and full-time enrollment. Recipients must take part in faculty-mentored research or scholarly work and are invited into the Honors College. The program has run since 2017.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maine's top seniors: a GPA around 3.7 or higher, a demanding schedule, a clear academic interest and real leadership or community service.
Full TuitionAutomaticnational merit
UMaine National Merit Award
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (3.3 GPA, 8 yrs)
Full Tuition
full tuition and mandatory fees
✔ Stackable
National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. Open to Maine, out-of-state and NEBHE students.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers tuition and mandatory fees only. Housing and food need other aid. Ask admissions how it is packaged with your student's admission-based award.
💡
Strategic Detail
Full tuition and mandatory fees, up to 30 credits a year. It is listed on the Maine resident, out-of-state and NEBHE merit pages, so residency does not matter. Renewable four years with a 3.3 GPA and full-time enrollment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Semifinalists and Finalists. That status comes from the junior-year PSAT/NMSQT, so this is decided before senior fall even starts.
App Required
Pulp and Paper Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 31 ✓ Renews (3 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~160+ scholarships a year across all class years winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Run by an independent foundation, not UMaine admissions. Ask how it is packaged with your student's merit commitment, since UMaine can replace part of that commitment with other scholarships.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the online first-year application by Dec 31 in one sitting: high school transcript through grade 11, a PDF letter to the Scholarship Committee on your interest in engineering and the paper industry, activities and honors, GPA (SAT optional) and a parent e-signature. Selected students are invited to Zoom interviews in early January.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview
💡
Strategic Detail
Full or partial tuition for students in chemical, civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering who are interested in pulp, paper and supplier industry careers. Recipients keep a 3.0 GPA, attend management seminars, join the student organization and complete a co-op or internship after sophomore year. The foundation reports that every senior recipient is employed or in grad school.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Engineering-minded students who can say why the paper and packaging industry interests them. The foundation describes a typical applicant as top 15% of the class with honors, activities and strong communication skills.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How do you apply for Maine Top Scholars?
Submit the UMaine application by December 1. Once admitted, complete the Top Scholar Application by December 11. It asks for a 250-word statement on your goals and why UMaine fits, plus activities and a counselor or teacher recommendation if they aren’t already on file. Review starts in January.
What GPA do Maine Top Scholars usually have?
UMaine encourages students with a 3.7 or higher (or 93 on a 100-point scale) to apply. Selection also looks at course rigor, intended program, and leadership or community service.
What do Maine Top Scholars have to do once they’re here?
Take part in faculty-mentored research or scholarly work in their field, keep a 3.3 GPA and stay full-time. They’re also invited into the Honors College.
Does UMaine have a National Merit scholarship?
Yes. The UMaine National Merit Award covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees (up to 30 credits a year) for Semifinalists and Finalists, renewable four years with a 3.3 GPA. It’s open to Maine, out-of-state and NEBHE students.
What is the Pulp and Paper Foundation scholarship?
It’s full or partial tuition for students in chemical, civil, computer, electrical or mechanical engineering who are interested in the paper and packaging industry.
The first-year application is due December 31.
Selected students interview over Zoom in early January.
Recipients keep a 3.0 GPA and complete a co-op or internship after sophomore year.
Is there a full-ride scholarship at UMaine?
Not in UMaine’s published first-year scholarship programs. The top awards cover tuition and fees, so housing and food still need a plan.
🧠 Parent Strategy: UMaine’s “One Application Per Scholarship” Rule
UMaine’s donor and department money lives in ScholarshipUniverse. It matches your student to scholarships, but every one still needs its own application.
Log in with the maine.edu account and answer all the matching questions. More answers means more matches.
Start with the application that unlocks the most scholarships at once.
File the FAFSA every year if any scholarship lists financial need.
Report any outside scholarships to Student Financial Services (UMaine requires it).
Parent translation: Maine families who skip the FAFSA because “we’ll just get merit” can miss INSPIRE Maine, which is free tuition for many families. File it anyway.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t the headline awards, but they’re where a lot of real money hides: a need-based free-tuition program, arts scholarships with a December 1 deadline, and research fellowships that pay students to do work they’d want on a resume anyway. Several are for juniors and seniors, so bookmark this section for later years too.
Full TuitionAutomatic
INSPIRE Maine Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Last-dollar aid. Merit scholarships, Pell, the Maine State Grant and other gift aid are counted first, and INSPIRE fills whatever is left of tuition and mandatory fees. Housing and food are not covered.
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees (up to 30 credits a year) for Maine residents who are Pell-eligible with an SAI under 6,655, or whose family AGI and assets are under $75,000 on the FAFSA. Requires full-time enrollment and a 2.5 GPA to renew.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maine families who file the FAFSA on time. Families who skip the FAFSA because they assume merit is all they will get can miss this completely.
App Required
Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid in two equal installments as tuition credit. Renewal depends on staying active: art and theatre require the major, dance requires the minor and performances, music requires an approved ensemble every semester.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the complete UMaine application by Dec 1. Art: email a 10 to 15 image portfolio and statement to um.art.vapa@maine.edu. Dance: audition in person or by video. Music: be nominated by a music teacher or director and confirm interest with the Music Division. Theatre: be nominated by a drama teacher or audition.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Early Action incentive awards for art, music, theatre and dance. Renewable up to 8 semesters or 120 credits with a 2.5 GPA and continued participation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with real arts experience who apply by Dec 1. Music performance awards do not require being a music major.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ScholarshipUniverse Selective and Department Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Varies by scholarship (check ScholarshipUniverse) ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
UMaine's merit is a dollar commitment, so a new donor scholarship can replace part of it on the aid offer instead of adding new money. Ask Student Financial Services before counting on it to stack.
📄
How to Apply
Log in to umaine.scholarshipuniverse.com with your maine.edu account, answer the matching questions, then complete a separate application for each scholarship you match. File the FAFSA each year if a scholarship lists financial need.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Hundreds of donor-funded, college and department scholarships in one portal, including engineering, business, education and liberal arts awards. Once you win one, you usually do not need to reapply in later years if you still meet the criteria.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who answer every matching question and apply to everything they match. Many awards draw few applicants.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
CUGR Research and Creative Activities Fellowships
📅 Deadline: Fall (academic-year fellowships); spring (summer fellowships) Non-Renewable
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays project costs, so it does not normally compete with tuition aid.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Center for Undergraduate Research with a faculty-supervised project proposal.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 per student for faculty-supervised research or creative work during the academic year. Summer fellowships are also offered.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who already have a faculty mentor and a defined project.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
McGillicuddy Humanities Center Undergraduate Fellowships
📅 Deadline: Fall (calendar-year fellowships) or spring (academic-year fellowships) Non-Renewable
$4,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
A stipend for focused work, paid on top of normal aid as far as UMaine's pages show; confirm with Student Financial Services.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the McGillicuddy Humanities Center with a research project plan.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$4,000 per semester for two consecutive semesters, plus a peer cohort, interdisciplinary programs and professional skills training.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Junior and senior humanities students with a research project ready to develop.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Margaret Chase Smith Maine Policy Scholars
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
$5,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One student per University of Maine System campus winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
The $5,000 goes toward tuition; up to $1,000 in research expenses can also be reimbursed.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center in the spring.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Year-long research scholarship on a Maine public policy issue, ending in a report and presentation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a strong Maine policy question and a faculty advisor willing to work with them all year.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Margaret Chase Smith Public Affairs Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~One or two students a year winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published on UMaine's pages; confirm with the Policy Center.
📄
How to Apply
Propose an independent research project on Maine public policy to the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Awarded each year to one or two UMaine undergraduates for an independent research project relevant to Maine public policy.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a well-defined independent policy research idea.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Global Perspectives for Humanities Explorations Fund
📅 Deadline: Fall (for study abroad the following spring or summer) Non-Renewable
$1,500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Pays toward study abroad costs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the McGillicuddy Humanities Center in the fall.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,500 toward study abroad in the spring or summer after a fall application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Humanities students planning ahead for spring or summer study abroad.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Inez Boyd Environmental Research Award
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
$1,500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Supports research costs; open to undergraduate and graduate students.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon in the spring.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,500 for UMaine students doing research on Maine's native plants and animals, offered by Maine Audubon's Penobscot Valley Chapter.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students researching Maine's native plants or animals.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Sandy and Bobby Ives Research Award
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Supports research, conference travel or fieldwork training.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the McGillicuddy Humanities Center in the spring.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
$500 grant for research, conference travel or ethnographic fieldwork training.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time students working in ethnography, oral history, folklore, or Maine and Maritime Canada studies.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
John Mitchell Nickerson Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published on UMaine's pages.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the UMaine Political Science department in the spring.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Merit scholarship for political science juniors and seniors from Maine who show the highest scholarship and potential to serve the public.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Maine-resident political science juniors and seniors with top grades and a record of public service.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Servant Heart Scholarship Fund
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published on UMaine's pages.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through UMaine's volunteer and service office in the spring.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
For students who connect public service with their academic work and apply practical solutions to real problems.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who tie community service to their coursework and were recently involved in an outreach project.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Killam Fellowships
📅 Deadline: Early spring Non-Renewable
$12,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid as a cash award for the exchange semester or year.
📄
How to Apply
Apply with support from UMaine's Office of Major Scholarships in early spring.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Binational exchange program with Canada. Fellows receive $12,000 US ($6,000 per semester) plus other benefits.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates who want a semester or year at a Canadian university and can make a strong case for the exchange.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
ROTC / Military Science Scholarships
📅 Deadline: Oct–Jan (national boards) ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
full tuition and stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Renewable per contract, service required
📄
How to Apply
ROTC application; must meet national Army/Navy/Air Force standards
Full tuition, book/supply stipends possible, service commitment required
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who excel in leadership, fitness, and academic courses
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Maine State Society of Washington, DC Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Outside scholarship; report it to Student Financial Services, which UMaine requires.
📄
How to Apply
Apply directly to the Maine State Society Foundation in the spring.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Awards of at least $1,000 for full-time students after their first year of college in Maine.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time students who have finished at least one year at a Maine four-year nonprofit college.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Do we need a separate application for INSPIRE Maine?
No. File the FAFSA by March 1, send any verification documents by May 1, and refile by March 1 every year. INSPIRE is last-dollar aid: it fills whatever’s left of tuition and fees after merit and grants.
Does my student have to be an arts major for the arts scholarships?
It depends on the art.
Art and theatre scholarships require the major.
Dance requires the minor plus performances.
Music performance scholarships need ensemble participation every semester but not the major.
All of them require the admission application by December 1.
Will a donor scholarship add to my merit award?
Not always. UMaine’s merit is a dollar commitment, and an endowed scholarship can replace part of it instead of stacking on top. Ask Student Financial Services how a new award changes your offer before you count on it.
Is there scholarship money for research?
Yes, and it’s one of UMaine’s strengths. CUGR fellowships pay $3,000 for a faculty-supervised project. Humanities juniors and seniors can earn $4,000 a semester as McGillicuddy Fellows. The Maine Policy Scholars program puts $5,000 toward tuition for one student per campus.
Do we have to reapply every year?
For ScholarshipUniverse selective scholarships, usually not. If your student still meets the criteria, UMaine keeps the application on file.
The UMaine Honors College started as a program in 1935, which makes it one of the oldest honors programs in the country. It’s a community of about 750 students from every major. The best part for parents: there’s no separate application for first-years. Every student who applies to UMaine by December 1 is automatically considered, and those who meet the criteria get an invitation.
How to get in: Apply to UMaine by December 1. Invitations may still go out after that if space allows.
To accept: RSVP to Honors and pay the UMaine deposit by May 1.
Cost: $200 per semester Honors fee, waived for Pell-eligible students.
Workload: Usually one Honors course per semester, which also counts toward general education.
Honors College Scholarships & Fellowships
App Required⚠ Senior Only
INBRE Honors Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Oct 16 Non-Renewable
$3,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~6 fellowships a year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Comes with an extra $1,000 for research supplies.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Google Form application by Oct 16 with a cover page, resume, a three-page project description written with your mentor, and a budget page. Your mentor emails a letter of support to honors@maine.edu by the same date.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$3,000 fellowship plus $1,000 for supplies for Honors thesis students in biomedical research. Recipients present at the Maine Biological and Medical Sciences Symposium or a similar meeting.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors seniors already doing thesis research with an INBRE scientist who can write a clear, specific proposal.
App Required⚠ Junior Only
INBRE Honors Pre-Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Oct 16 Non-Renewable
$1,600
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~4 fellowships a year winners/yr🎓 Junior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Includes a supply allowance. UMaine's page lists $400 in one spot and $1,000 in another, so confirm the current figure.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Google Form application by Oct 16 with a cover page, resume, project description and budget; mentor letter to honors@maine.edu by the same date.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$1,600 pre-thesis fellowship for Honors students working on biomedical research with INBRE scientists.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students a year ahead of their thesis who have joined an INBRE lab.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
INBRE Honors Summer Research Fellowships
📅 Deadline: Jan (for the following summer) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~2 fellowships annually winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers lodging, food and supplies rather than a paycheck. Check how it interacts with other summer aid before accepting.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the MDIBL website in January for the following summer, with two faculty recommendation letters.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Two fellowships a year. Pairs an Honors student with a federally funded biomedical researcher for a 10-week summer project in comparative functional genomics. Funding covers lodging, food and supplies.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a confirmed INBRE faculty mentor and a research question they can defend in writing.
App Required⚠ Sophomore Only
INBRE Mentored Research Network Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Oct 16 Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~5 fellowships a year winners/yr🎓 Sophomore
✚
Stacking & Combining
The $500 is for supplies.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Google Form by Oct 16 with a research topic, training goals, a mentoring plan and a recommendation from your faculty mentor.
💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Pairs second-year Honors students with an experienced student mentor and a faculty mentor for the year. Designed as a stepping stone to the Pre-Thesis and Thesis fellowships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Second-year Honors students who want to build lab skills before applying for bigger fellowships.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Carolyn E. Reed Pre-Medical Honors Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
$2,500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~1 award a year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498.
💡
Strategic Detail
One $2,500 award for an Honors thesis student headed toward medicine.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Pre-med Honors students whose thesis research shows a real commitment to medicine.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Rendle A. and Patricia K. Jones Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~1 award a year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498.
💡
Strategic Detail
One $2,000 award for an Honors thesis on law and public service topics.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Thesis writers studying legal service in the public arena, public health, community development, conservation or policy.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Thomas E. Lynch Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published. Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498.
💡
Strategic Detail
Thesis fellowships for Honors students writing a thesis in any discipline.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors thesis writers in any major.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Barbara A. Ouellette Honors Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~1 award a year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Preference goes to students with financial need.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498.
💡
Strategic Detail
One award of up to $500 for an Honors thesis student.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Honors thesis writers in any discipline, especially those with need.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Steven F. Cohn Honors Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA👥 ~1 award a year winners/yr🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498 and current on thesis forms.
💡
Strategic Detail
One award of up to $500 for sociology Honors thesis research.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Sociology majors in the Honors College working on a thesis or capstone.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Dr. Bernard Lown Honors Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published. First preference to students with financial need.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498 and current on thesis forms.
💡
Strategic Detail
Annual thesis fellowships honoring Dr. Bernard Lown, a UMaine alumnus who invented the first effective defibrillator.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Thesis writers working on humanitarian themes like peace, social justice, climate, medicine or health services.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Maynard Ross Thaxter Thesis Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published. Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498 and current on thesis forms.
💡
Strategic Detail
Thesis fellowships with first preference for political science and related fields.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Political science and related thesis writers first; any Honors thesis writer second.
App Required⚠ Senior Only
Forestry Senior Honors Fellowship
📅 Deadline: Express interest through the Honors Fellowship Interest Form Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 Senior
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published.
📄
How to Apply
Fill out the Honors College Fellowship Interest Form. Must be enrolled in HON 498 and current on thesis forms.
💡
Strategic Detail
Thesis fellowship support for every Honors senior majoring or minoring in the School of Forest Resources.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every Honors senior majoring or minoring in the School of Forest Resources.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Bill & Betsy Pullen Leitch '55 Conference and Study Abroad Fund
📅 Deadline: Rolling (apply ahead of intended travel) · 📢 Results: Within ~2 weeks of submission Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works best as a gap filler for airfare, registration or program fees. Pairs well with the Stanhope Study Abroad Fellowship and the Slavin Research Fund.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Honors College Leitch fund online application.
💡
Strategic Detail
Grants of up to $1,000 for travel to present research at a conference or to help pay for study abroad. Rolling deadline, with decisions within about two weeks.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a 3.30+ GPA who already have a conference acceptance or study abroad enrollment in hand.
Amount not published. Pairs well with the Leitch fund.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through ScholarshipUniverse by April 1.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Study abroad fellowship for Honors students with a 3.30+ GPA.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students studying outside the U.S., with preference for Maine high school graduates.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Rezendes Global Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring (offered every other year; next expected 2027-28) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers transportation and program fees. Financial need may be considered.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a letter on your interest and commitment to a summer volunteer program, your top three destinations, and a resume.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Covers travel and fees for an international service program through Global Volunteers. Offered in 2025-26 and every other year after.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a strong record in Honors and their major who want to serve abroad.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Charlie Slavin Research Fund
📅 Deadline: Rolling · 📢 Results: Within 2 weeks of submission Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.3+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
More than one grant is allowed, but the lifetime total is capped at $500. Must be spent on research expenses.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Honors College Slavin Fund online form. Rolling deadline.
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors-only research fund named for a former Honors dean. Grants of up to $500 for research costs like fieldwork, lab supplies, surveys or travel. Decisions within two weeks.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Active Honors students with a 3.30+ GPA, a specific project and a faculty mentor. Small, focused requests do well.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Kinney Honors College Internship Fund
📅 Deadline: Rolling Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Must show financial need. Limited by available funds.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Honors College online internship funding application.
💡
Strategic Detail
Helps Honors students afford unpaid internships that support their major or thesis.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students taking unpaid internships tied to their major or Honors thesis.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Richard and Mildred Giesberg Fund
📅 Deadline: Rolling Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Amount not published.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Honors College online funding application.
💡
Strategic Detail
Supports unpaid internships, volunteer service, peace and social justice research, and cross-cultural programming.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students doing unpaid internships, volunteer service, or peace and social justice research.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors College Aspiration Scholarship Fund
📅 Deadline: No application; selected with Student Financial Services Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Need-based; the FAFSA must be on file.
📄
How to Apply
No application. Selected by the Honors College director with Student Financial Services.
💡
Strategic Detail
Endowed scholarship for Honors students with the greatest demonstrated need.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Hard-working Honors students with the greatest financial need.
Data last verified Oct 12, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Honors money at UMaine mostly arrives after the first year: thesis fellowships, research grants, and travel and internship funds. Several have no published dollar amount, and availability depends on each year’s funding.
Deadline Note: The INBRE Thesis, Pre-Thesis and Mentored Research Network fellowships are all due October 16, early in the fall. That means students should line up a lab and mentor the spring before.
How Honors Connects to the Big Scholarships
Maine Top Scholars: Every recipient is invited into the Honors College.
Need-based Honors aid: The Aspiration Fund and several donor awards go to Honors students with the greatest need, picked with Student Financial Services.
National scholarships: The Office of Major Scholarships helps students prepare for Fulbright, Goldwater, Truman, Rhodes and others.
Honors College FAQs (University of Maine)
Does my student need to apply separately to Honors?
Not as a first-year. Applying to UMaine by December 1 is the application. Students who don’t get an invitation, plus current and transfer students, can apply through the Honors Prospective Students page.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Not automatically. The money comes through the fellowships and grants above, mostly for research, thesis work and travel. Maine Top Scholars, which covers full tuition, is the main incoming award tied to Honors.
Is there a GPA requirement?
To graduate with Honors, students need a 3.30 GPA and the full Honors curriculum. Most Honors fellowships also require a 3.30.
Will Honors add extra classes or extra years?
Usually not. The Honors courses double as general education requirements. AP credit can’t replace Honors courses, but it can still free up room for a minor or study abroad.
Is there Honors housing?
Yes. There’s an optional Honors Living-Learning Community spread across four residence halls.
The University of Maine is the state’s flagship and a Carnegie R1 research university, the top research tier in the country. It’s also a land-grant school, and you can feel it in what UMaine is best at: programs tied to Maine’s woods, coast and industries. If your student loves the outdoors and hands-on science, this is a place where the big classroom is the state itself.
Nationally Known Pipeline: Chemical engineering and the Pulp and Paper Foundation. Few schools have anything like it. An industry-backed foundation funds more than 160 engineering scholarships a year, builds in co-ops, and reports that every one of its senior scholarship recipients ends up employed or in grad school.
Engineering: Chemical, civil, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering anchor the college, with industry co-ops built into the experience.
Forestry: The School of Forest Resources is a natural fit for one of the most forested states in the country, and Honors seniors in forestry even have their own thesis fellowship fund.
Marine Science: A coastal state’s flagship takes the ocean seriously, with field and lab opportunities along Maine’s coast.
Environmental Science: Research on Maine’s native plants, animals and ecosystems is supported through dedicated student research awards.
Undergraduate Research Everywhere: From INBRE biomedical labs to humanities fellowships, UMaine pays undergrads to do real research, often starting sophomore year.
🔗 Official University of Maine Links
Use UMaine’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs and data. Always trust these pages for final numbers and award terms.
Here’s UMaine in one breath: it’s one of the easiest flagships in the country to apply to, and one of the most generous to students who apply early. No fee, no test scores, no essays for the main merit awards. Just a transcript and a December 1 deadline that quietly decides how much money is on the table.
For Maine families, the real story is INSPIRE Maine. If your income qualifies, tuition can be free, but only if you file the FAFSA by March 1. For out-of-state families, Flagship Match turns UMaine into a fair fight with your home flagship’s price. And for engineering kids, the Pulp and Paper Foundation might be the best-kept secret in New England.
Our advice: apply by December 1, file the FAFSA even if you think you won’t qualify, and have your student open ScholarshipUniverse as soon as they get a maine.edu account. Three moves, and you’ve covered almost every dollar UMaine has to offer.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo started CollegeReadyParent after working through the college money maze with his own daughter. He digs through official university pages so other families don’t have to, and he keeps the site free: no paywall, no lead forms.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
