University of Maine System starts semester with highest spring enrollment since 2019

All of Maine's public universities are experiencing growth in areas aligned with state workforce needs like engineering, education and health care, while demand for the University of Maine at Presque Isle's flexible online YourPace programs from working adults has driven overall year-over-year System enrollment increases for a seventh consecutive semester

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine - The University of Maine System (UMS) is starting a new semester today with its highest spring enrollment in eight years.

Driven by the explosive growth of its high-quality, affordable online degree programs, the System is on-track for its seventh consecutive semester of year-over-year student enrollment growth, outpacing national trends (External Site) despite Maine's demographic pressures.

As classes begin, more than 24,500 students are registered across Maine's public universities - the most since 2019 and a 1.7% increase from the last spring semester. Credit hours have increased by 2.6%, reflecting that more students are taking more courses. Additionally, more than 1,500 Maine high school students are earning postsecondary credit for free through the System's early college programs - a decline from prior years due to limited funding.

The System's undergraduate spring semester enrollment is the highest it has been since 2022, while enrollment of students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees is at an all-time high for spring.

"Our continued demographic-defying enrollment growth reflects that the University of Maine System is meeting the market with high-quality, high-value degree programs that learners want and employers expect," said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. "By expanding affordable, accessible programs in high-demand fields, our public universities are creating new pathways to upward mobility and growing Maine's skilled workforce and economy."

Propelling overall System enrollment growth is a 40% year-over-year increase in the number of University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) students, thanks to the runaway success of its affordable YourPace degree and certificate programs. YourPace allows busy working adults to access their courses entirely online and progress at their own pace when they demonstrate competency, with a flat tuition rate per eight-week session and six start dates throughout the year, including Jan. 12, March 9 and May 11.

The smallest UMS undergraduate university just six years ago, UMPI has now become the System's third-largest university based on headcount, with more than 3,000 students currently enrolled - a nearly three-fold increase from 2022.

With the support of Chancellor Malloy and the System's Board of Trustees, UMPI continues to launch new in-demand YourPace offerings. For example, a bachelor's degree in psychology delivered through YourPace that went online in 2024 now enrolls more than 400 students, while a new YourPace master's program in business has already attracted more than 130 learners.

In its strategic plan released in 2023, the System set a goal of doubling its fully online academic programs by 2028 to ensure greater access to education and employment opportunities for working Maine adults and those who are place-bound, and also to tap into new markets as the number of high school graduates in the state declines.

The University of Maine at Farmington (UMF) and University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK) have also gained students over last spring and are seeing their highest spring semester enrollment since 2021. Professional studies, teacher preparation and early childhood education programs are driving UMF's spring enrollment rebound, while UMFK's online and hybrid graduate nursing programs, launched in 2023, now enroll more than 150 students and have increased the northernmost UMS university's overall enrollment.

UMF has also attracted new students in signature programs now being delivered through the proprietary YourPace platform in partnership with UMPI (External Site). UMFK will additionally launch programs through YourPace this year.

"The University of Maine at Presque Isle is proud that our flexible and affordable YourPace programs are attracting so many new learners into the University of Maine System," said UMPI President Ray Rice. "By helping busy working adults achieve their professional and personal goals, we are also strengthening UMS and positioning our System and our state as a global leader in higher education access and innovation."

As it works to expand access to justice, the University of Maine School of Law has achieved its highest start-of-semester spring enrollment on record, thanks to its recent ranking (External Site) as one of the nation's top law schools based on the strength of its clinical programs and the outcomes of its graduates.

While their spring enrollment is down from last year, there is notable enrollment growth at all other UMS universities in key areas of state workforce need.

Bolstered by its prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification for research performance and productivity, the University of Maine now has more doctoral students than any prior spring semester. Over the past five years, UMaine has also achieved strong growth in undergraduate and graduate areas aligned with state workforce needs, including engineering and computing, business administration and psychology.

The University of Southern Maine has more than doubled doctoral student enrollment over the past five years and has also seen significant growth in undergraduate and graduate education and counselor education fields important to Maine K-12 schools, as well as its cybersecurity and marketing programs.

More students are pursuing associate and master's degrees at the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) than ever before. The advanced degree growth at UMA is led by a master's program in whole child education launched last year, and an increase in those seeking a master's in trauma-informed emergency management.

An official UMS student count, known as a census, will take place on Feb. 15. In the meantime, as part of its commitment to public transparency, a real-time enrollment tracker (External Site) is available on the System's website.

About the University of Maine System

The University of Maine System (UMS) is the state's largest driver of educational attainment and economic development and its seven public universities and law school are the most affordable in New England. Over the past two decades, UMS has awarded 106,362 degrees and spurred and strengthened thousands of small Maine businesses through its world-class research and development activities. For more information, visit https://www.maine.edu.

Media Contact:

Samantha WarrenChief External & Governmental Affairs Officer207-632-0389 / [email protected]