Summer enrollments skyrocket at Maine's public universities

File photo / Courtesy of the University of Maine System The University of Maine at Presque Isle has seen one of the largest increases in summer enrollment this year.

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By Tina Fischer

With more than 11,500 students already registered for the summer semester at Maine’s public universities, enrollment has already exceeded its highest point since 2011, and those numbers are expected to grow.

The increased numbers also mark the fifth straight semester of enrollment growth across all University of Maine System campuses.

This is the third consecutive summer semester where overall enrollment has increased for both undergraduate and graduate programs, and there are 6.7% more students enrolled now than at this point in 2024.

Credit hours, which reflect the relevance and affordability of the system’s offerings and determine tuition revenue, are 17% higher than at this time in 2024 and 33% higher than five years ago.

Summer enrollment across all schools had been declining since the high point in the early 2000s.

University spokeswoman Samantha Warren credits the rebound to expanded offerings, including online, to help the growing number of students balancing work and family.

“For example, there are nearly 900 courses available this summer through the University of Maine and more than 500 available through the University of Southern Maine,” Warren told Mainebiz.

“And the rapidly growing University of Maine at Presque Isle's YourPace online adult degree completion program has increased educational access and enrollment through that public university by 37% over last summer.

“Additionally, some UMS universities, like UMaine, offer the option for incoming students to get a head start on their studies by taking a single course over the summer at a reduced rate to ease the transition into postsecondary education," she said.

Warren said this option is in addition to research learning experiences funded by the Harold Alfond Foundation through an an initiative that provides first-year students summer ‘bridge weeks’ for hands-on experiences that improve student retention, success and workforce readiness.

Presque Isle, Fort Kent, Farmington

In addition to growth at Presque Isle, UMaine at Fort Kent has surpassed its highest enrollment since 2017, and UMaine Farmington is at its highest since 2019. More than 3,200 students are enrolled in USM summer courses, the most since 2021.

Overall enrollment figures do not include more than 800 Maine high school students earning early college credit this summer, a 13% increase over last year. Those enrollments are largely through UMaine Machias, the University of Southern Maine and at UMaine Augusta.

"We're excited to see more students enrolling in summer courses across Maine's public universities and proud that our expanded offerings are helping those balancing work and family responsibilities stay on track to their degree, workforce opportunity and upward mobility," said Dannel Malloy, chancellor of the University of Maine System.