Maine’s public universities are experiencing greater enrollment growth this fall than previously projected, with the upward mobility of 25,870 students being supported this semester through high-quality education and research learning experiences. 

According to a formal student census conducted on Oct. 15, the University of Maine System (UMS) achieved its sixth consecutive semester of year-over-year enrollment gains this fall and the highest total enrollment since 2021. 

Overall System headcount is up 2.3% over Fall 2024 and credit hours have increased 2.8%. Undergraduate (20,407), graduate (5,173) and law (290) student enrollment are all at a four-year high, with employer demand driving more students to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees through UMS than ever before. 

“Despite Maine’s daunting demographics, more students and families are recognizing the unmatched value of Maine’s public universities, which combine region-leading affordability, academic excellence and innovation in how we make learning accessible and relevant — from flexible online programs to world-class research labs — to prepare graduates for great-paying careers,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy. “As Maine’s largest workforce development driver, the University of Maine System’s continued enrollment gains are great news for the state’s employers and economy.”

The University of Maine at Augusta, the University of Maine at Farmington (UMF), the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), the University of Maine at Presque Isle (UMPI) and the University of Maine School of Law all increased enrollment as measured by both headcount and student credit hours. 

UMPI led the System with 35.4% enrollment growth thanks to its flexible, competency-based YourPace degree and certification programs, which are entirely online and allow working adult students to access door-opening postsecondary education when it works best in their busy lives. Because YourPace has another session starting on Oct. 27, UMPI enrollment has continued to climb post-census, with more than 150 additional students signing up since Oct. 15, bringing the total to 3,090 enrolled as of October 23, 2025. 

UMFK has improved its enrollment 7.7% by expanding online nursing degree programs to meet acute workforce needs in the state and improve Mainers’ health care access and outcomes. 

The University of Maine, the state’s only institution to have achieved prestigious R1 Carnegie Classification for research excellence and productivity, has the highest doctoral student enrollment (641) in its history, up 6% from last year and more than 20% from five years ago.

Meanwhile, the University of Southern Maine increased the number of undergraduate transfer students (556) it welcomed this fall, as part of overall transfer growth across the System, which is up 17% from just last year and 58% from five years ago, due to relevant adult degree-completion programs such as UMPI’s YourPace and seamless transfer from Maine’s community colleges.  

Reflecting the increasing collaboration within the System enabled by its innovative unified accreditation, UMPI is partnering to expand YourPace to UMF this fall and UMFK in the Spring 2026 semester.

Maine’s public universities are also helping 4,955 high school students in the state get a head start on their postsecondary education and pathways to careers through free UMS Early College, for a total of 30,825 students currently taking credit-bearing courses through the System, not counting the tens of thousands served through UMaine Cooperative Extension and other education and enrichment programs. Early College enrollment is down due to funding limitations.

The System’s validated Fall 2025 enrollment data will be presented to the Board of Trustees at their November meeting.