University of Maine (UMaine)

UMaine: Define Tomorrow

The University of Maine (UMaine) offers extensive academic opportunities expected from a flagship research university, with the close-knit feel of a small college. Founded in 1865, UMaine is a land and Sea Grant institution and the flagship campus of the University of Maine System. UMaine offers the most comprehensive academic experience in the state. There are nearly 100 majors and academic programs, 75 graduate degree programs and 30 doctoral programs. Top students are invited to join the Honors College, one of the oldest and most prestigious honors college in the nation. UMaine is also the state's only public research university, housing facilities with international reputations for excellence. UMaine students have extraordinary opportunities to gain real-world experience through research and experiential learning. Our undergraduates have the opportunity to collaborate with faculty, conduct fieldwork, and participate in internships around the world. Wildlife ecology studies learn about animal behavior by working with wildlife biologists and baby black bears. Many engineering students secure co-ops that typically lead to employment immediately upon graduation and are global leaders in deepwater offshore wind energy research. Education majors have the opportunity to take advantage of urban, rural, and international student teaching opportunities, and our marine science students have the opportunity to spend a semester by the sea at our world renowned Darling Marine Center. There are over 200 student organizations such as SPIFFY, the student investment club that manages a $3.2 million real money portfolio, Greek Life, Division I athletics, and many more.

Students get a full and enriching college experience at UMaine. The University of Maine hosts many on-campus programs and opportunities for students to explore and meet new people. Students can kayak, ski, snowshoe, canoe, hike, and much more. 15 miles of walking, biking, and cross country ski trails surround UMaine's beautiful campus. There are also over 200 clubs and organizations for students to get involved in, such as Greek Life, The Woodsmen's Club, Robotics Club, Spanish Club and countless more. The Campus Activities and Student Engagement puts on free events during the school year including movies, karaoke, game nights, and astronomy shows. You can join an athletic team or cheer on the UMaine Black Bears Division I teams to victory for free during the year. In fact, the Wall Street Journal names UMaine's Alfond Arena the best atmosphere in college hockey.

UMaine's "campus is filled with very welcoming people" who are "down to earth," "helpful," "hardworking," and, as one undergrad phrases it, "wicked friendly." The student body hails "mostly from the state of Maine or the surrounding New England area" and is predominantly white. Yet students emphasize that the campus is diverse, maintaining a "significant LGBT+ presence on campus" and a mix of social classes, religions, and political affiliations. Whatever the background, most students "share the love and passion of the outdoors." Additionally, one student tells us, "Everyone has their own different quirks and no one is judged for that." That acceptance also goes for nontraditional students. For example, the "veteran community is fantastic" and there are "many people with military partners [or] family members." Another student sums it up: "There is a unique sense of Maine here, and we are quite united under the Black Bear banner."

UMaine Black Bears are a very active bunch, and "sports, especially hockey, [are] a huge part of the...culture." At games, "the student section goes crazy (in the best way)" and "the school spirit is...incredible." Additionally, the school is situated in "such a unique place" that is "super green in the summer and pure white in the winter," providing this outdoorsy student body with miles of "trails for running and biking and a river [where] people often go paddling, kayaking, swimming, and fishing." (Yes, there's an on-campus canoe rental.) Both coastal Arcadia National Park and remote Baxter State Park, where "the Appalachian Trail ends...[atop] pristine Mount Katahdin," are just an hour's drive away. The winter season is popular for cross-country and alpine skiing, snowboarding, and other sports. Other forms of physical activity are available in UMaine's recreation center, which students boast is the "best in New England" and features "tons of equipment and...classes for people of all experience levels." For those who would rather stay inside during the winter, the campus puts on free movies, "drag shows, trivia nights, [and] amazing Collins Center performances." As for nightlife, while there are plenty of parties and drinking at downtown bars on weekends, there is little pressure to partake-students say their peers are "chill and accepting of whatever you do and do not do." While the school may be in a rural environment, that doesn't mean the students are bored or lonely. As one undergrad puts it: "When everyone's in the middle of nowhere, no one is."