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University of Maine scholarships and merit aid

Two prices: the posted one, and yours.

Posted price$57,006per year · 2026-2027 · cost of attendance
Yours?depends on the rules below

The short answer

University of Maine awards automatic merit on admission. University of Maine does not publish a GPA or test chart, so you cannot self-calculate the dollars.

Where does your student land?

Verified Jul 2026
5 school sources to explore

Published rules, with the school sources close at hand. Confirm the details before you count on an award.

The award collection

Published scholarships

These amounts and requirements come from the school’s own published pages. Open an award to see who qualifies and how to keep it.

Where does your student land?

  1. Flagship Match Commitment (first-year, out-of-state) — Flagship Scholars Commitment Program$13,583 to $19,311 per yearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Flagship Match Commitment (first-year, out-of-state) — Flagship Scholars Commitment Program

    $13,583 to $19,311 per year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Minimum 2.5 cumulative HS GPA to qualify for admissions-based scholarships; award amount set by GPA and rigor of coursework
    SAT
    Optional (test-optional)
    ACT
    Optional (test-optional)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Flagship Match Commitment (first-year, out-of-state) — Flagship Scholars Commitment Program

    Who qualifies

    Out-of-state student from a specified eligible state; no separate scholarship application required

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first, provided the student meets renewal criteria. A minimum cumulative GPA is required each academic year; UMaine sends a formal letter stating the exact GPA the student must maintain (specific number not published on the page). Scholarship amount is fixed at the time of admission for the student's undergraduate career.

    Worth knowing

    The Flagship Match lets eligible out-of-state students attend UMaine at the same cost (tuition and fees) as their home state's public flagship; the amount varies by the flagship rates in the student's home state. The current 2026-27 page does NOT list which states are eligible or a hard GPA/test cutoff for the 'match' — see Section C. (A 2019 UMaine news blog listed CA, CT, IL, MA, NH, NJ, PA, RI, VT and a 3.0/1120 'best deal' threshold, but that is stale and not on the current scholarship page; not asserted here.)

  2. Flagship Leaders Commitment (first-year, out-of-state)$9,000-$12,000 per yearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Flagship Leaders Commitment (first-year, out-of-state)

    $9,000-$12,000 per year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Minimum 2.5 cumulative HS GPA; amount set by GPA and coursework rigor
    SAT
    Optional (test-optional)
    ACT
    Optional (test-optional)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Flagship Leaders Commitment (first-year, out-of-state)

    Who qualifies

    Out-of-state first-year applicant; automatically considered, no separate application

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first. Minimum cumulative GPA required each academic year per the formal award letter (exact GPA not published). Must maintain at least part-time enrollment (no fewer than 6 graded credit hours per semester).

    Worth knowing

    The Flagship Leaders Commitment is the second out-of-state award band under the Flagship Scholars Commitment Program (below the Flagship Match band). Awarded automatically at admission based on high school GPA and rigor of coursework.

  3. Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied by Dec. 1$2,000-$9,000 per yearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied by Dec. 1

    $2,000-$9,000 per year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Minimum 2.5 cumulative HS GPA; amount set by GPA and rigor of coursework
    SAT
    Optional (test-optional)
    ACT
    Optional (test-optional)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied by Dec. 1

    Who qualifies

    Maine resident or Canadian first-year student; complete admissions application by Dec. 1, 2025 for the higher range; no separate scholarship application

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first. Minimum cumulative GPA required each academic year; UMaine sends a formal letter with the required GPA (exact number not published). Must maintain at least part-time enrollment (no fewer than 6 graded credit hours per semester).

    Worth knowing

    This is the Dec. 1 (early-action) award band. The SAME award drops to $2,000-$5,000/yr for applications completed AFTER Dec. 1, 2025 — the deadline directly changes the award ceiling. Awarded automatically at admission based on HS GPA and coursework rigor.

  4. Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied after Dec. 1$2,000-$5,000 per yearAutomaticRenewable
    Published awardAcademic thresholds

    Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied after Dec. 1

    $2,000-$5,000 per year

    Published rangeAll published eligibility conditions still apply. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Minimum 2.5 cumulative HS GPA; amount set by GPA and rigor of coursework
    SAT
    Optional (test-optional)
    ACT
    Optional (test-optional)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Maine Scholarship Commitment Program (first-year, Maine residents / Canadian students) — applied after Dec. 1

    Who qualifies

    Maine resident or Canadian first-year student whose complete admissions application is submitted AFTER Dec. 1, 2025

    How to keep it

    Renewable for up to 8 semesters over 4 years, or 120 credits, whichever comes first; minimum cumulative GPA each year per the formal letter. Same renewal terms as the higher (pre-Dec. 1) band.

    Worth knowing

    Reduced award band for Maine residents/Canadians who miss the Dec. 1, 2025 early deadline. Listing this separately makes the deadline penalty explicit: the ceiling falls from $9,000 to $5,000.

  5. Maine Top Scholars (first-year, Maine residents)100% tuition and fees, up to 30 credits per academic yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Maine Top Scholars (first-year, Maine residents)

    100% tuition and fees, up to 30 credits per academic year

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Selected on GPA + academic rigor (no published numeric cutoff); 3.3 to renew
    SAT
    Optional (test-optional)
    ACT
    Optional (test-optional)
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Maine Top Scholars (first-year, Maine residents)

    Who qualifies

    High-achieving Maine residents selected on GPA, academic rigor, program of interest, and demonstrated leadership/community service; invited to join the Honors College

    How to keep it

    Renewable for four years with a maintained 3.3 GPA. Requires FULL-TIME enrollment (no fewer than 12 graded credit hours per semester). Recipients must participate in scholarly activity/research in their field.

    Worth knowing

    Top in-state award: covers full tuition AND fees (not just tuition). Selective (not a flat automatic-on-GPA award) and carries a research/Honors participation obligation. Distinct from the automatic $2,000-$9,000 Maine Scholarship Commitment band.

  6. UMaine National Merit Award (first-year; Maine residents and out-of-state)100% tuition and mandatory fees, up to 30 credits per academic yearNot automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    UMaine National Merit Award (first-year; Maine residents and out-of-state)

    100% tuition and mandatory fees, up to 30 credits per academic year

    Variable or qualified amountNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    3.3 to renew
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for UMaine National Merit Award (first-year; Maine residents and out-of-state)

    Who qualifies

    Semi-finalists and finalists with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation

    How to keep it

    Renewable for four years with a maintained 3.3 GPA. Requires FULL-TIME enrollment (no fewer than 12 graded credit hours per semester).

    Worth knowing

    Covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees for National Merit Semi-finalists and Finalists. Listed on both the Maine-resident and out-of-state 2026-27 first-year pages with identical wording.

  7. Early Action Award (first-year, out-of-state)$3,000-$5,000 (one-time additional merit award)Not automaticRenewable
    Published awardOther selection criteria

    Early Action Award (first-year, out-of-state)

    $3,000-$5,000 (one-time additional merit award)

    Published rangeNot recorded as automatic on grades and scores. Read the selection rules. Confirm the policy year with the school.

    GPA
    Minimum 2.5 cumulative HS GPA (to qualify for admissions-based scholarships)
    SAT
    Optional
    ACT
    Optional
    RenewableCheck the conditions
    Open award details for Early Action Award (first-year, out-of-state)

    Who qualifies

    Out-of-state first-year applicants who apply early action / submit a complete application by Dec. 1, 2025

    How to keep it

    Page describes it only as an additional merit 'Early Action Award'; no renewal terms stated specifically for the Early Action Award. The underlying admissions-based scholarships are renewable up to 8 semesters.

    Worth knowing

    Stacks on top of the Flagship Match / Flagship Leaders award. Note the residency split: out-of-state Early Action Award is $3,000-$5,000; the international page lists a flat $3,000 Early Action Award. Maine-resident applicants do not get a separate Early Action Award line — instead their Dec. 1 deadline raises the base award ceiling ($9,000 vs $5,000).

Lights up against University of Maine's published cutoffs. Not an award offer; confirm with the financial aid office.

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  • “it told me what to ask and what the renewal GPA looked like, which I was not going to find on my own”Melissa

The fine print

Renewal ruleMaine Top Scholars (first-year, Maine residents): renewal floor that quietly knocks awards out

Renewable for four years with a maintained 3.3 GPA. Requires FULL-TIME enrollment (no fewer than 12 graded credit hours per semester). Recipients must participate in scholarly activity/research in their field. A single rough term can end a four-year award here without warning if the GPA floor isn't met cumulatively.

Aid capHard $57,006 cost-of-attendance ceiling

Institutional aid at University of Maine cannot push the package past $57,006. Big outside wins can mathematically reduce institutional grant once the ceiling is reached.

What makes University of Maine different

Maine's public flagship awards every admitted first-year automatic, no-extra-application merit by GPA/rigor and residency — Maine residents get $2,000-$9,000/yr (best by the Dec. 1 deadline), out-of-state students get the Flagship Scholars program ($9,000-$19,311/yr), and the headline Flagship Match lets students from select states pay their home-state flagship's sticker price.

Merit tiers74 based on grades or scores
Research checkedJul 2026By our research team

More than one award path

Separate the two paths.

Some awards use published academic thresholds. Others have different selection criteria. A score chart does not describe every award at this school.

  1. Match the published criteria

    Use all requirements together, including residency and the entering class.

  2. Check the application dates

    Confirm the current admission and scholarship deadlines directly with the school.

  3. Know what happens next year

    Check renewal, credit requirements and how other aid affects the award.

The fine print / Three questions to carry forward

Before you count on it.

Does it apply to us? Confirm the entering year, residency and every eligibility condition.

Can we keep it? Check renewal GPA, credits and how long the award lasts.

Can we combine it? Ask how outside scholarships and other school awards change the offer.

Take University of Maine's decision sheet

A printable research summary, source links and room for your questions.

See what could change an award

Straight from the aid office

What University of Maine's aid office says

Per the Student Financial Services, University of Maine, August 2026. How we verify

Test scores and merit scholarship eligibility

Does a higher SAT score help my student qualify for more merit money?

Merit scholarship eligibility is based on academic rigor and does not factor in test scores.

“Merit scholarship eligibility is based on academic rigor, and does not factor in test scores.”
Where to get info on test-optional policy

Where can I learn more about UMaine's test-optional admissions and merit eligibility?

The Admissions Office can share more information on UMaine's test-optional admissions policy and merit scholarship eligibility.

“We recommend that prospective families connect with the Admissions Office, which can share more information on UMaine's test-optional admissions policy and merit scholarship eligibility”
GPA required to keep merit scholarship

What GPA does my student need to maintain to keep a merit scholarship?

Cumulative GPA requirements for merit scholarships vary by the specific scholarship offered, typically ranging from 2.5 to 3.3.

“Cumulative GPA requirements for merit scholarships vary depending on the scholarship that an applicant is offered, and typically range from 2.5-3.3.”
What happens after low grades

What happens if my student's grades drop and affect scholarship eligibility?

If continued eligibility is impacted by low grades, the office will contact the student directly about an appeal procedure to potentially reinstate some or all of the merit scholarship on a probationary status.

“If your student's continued eligibility is impacted due to low grades, our office will communicate with them directly about our appeal procedure, in order to have some or all of their merit scholarship eligibility reinstated on a probationary status.”
Cap on combined financial aid

Is there a limit on how much aid can stack together?

Aid from all sources cannot exceed a student's Cost of Attendance for the academic year.

“Aid from all sources cannot exceed a student's Cost of Attendance for the academic year.”

What families often miss

  1. For Maine residents/Canadians, the published award ceiling drops from $2,000-$9,000 (before Dec. 1) to $2,000-$5,000 (after Dec. 1). The deadline directly caps the merit award, and the out-of-state $3,000-$5,000 Early Action Award also requires applying by Dec. 1.

  2. The current 2026-27 page lists the Flagship Match Commitment at $13,583-$19,311/yr — applied to out-of-state tuition and fees (out-of-state total COA is $57,006). It lowers cost toward the student's home-state flagship sticker price, not to zero, and the published range does not list which states qualify.

  3. UMaine's terms say the commitment dollars 'may be replaced on the financial aid offer by other Federal, University, and Endowed scholarships and/or grants' — so federal/institutional aid can substitute for, not always stack on, the merit commitment.

  4. The 2026-27 Orono undergraduate COA totals ($31,896 Maine; $57,006 out-of-state; $41,826 New England Regional) are sticker estimates that include tuition, mandatory fees, housing/food, books, and travel/misc — before any merit award is applied. Merit reduces tuition/fees, not the whole COA.

  5. Most admissions-based awards require only part-time enrollment (6+ credits), but Maine Top Scholar Awards and the UMaine National Merit Award require FULL-TIME enrollment (12+ graded credits/semester) and a 3.3 GPA to keep the award.

See costs and school data

Who this school may work for

Out-of-state students from the Flagship Match states who want a public flagship at near-home-state price; Maine residents (and Canadians) who can earn full tuition-and-fees via Maine Top Scholars or large automatic awards; and any applicant with a 2.5+ GPA willing to hit the Dec. 1 early-action deadline for the maximum award.

Published yearly cost: Approximately $57,006 for 2026-2027. Source

Cost and graduation facts

Federal reporting on who actually enrolls at University of Maine, what they paid after aid, and what happened next — independent of anything the school markets.

Average annual net price by family income at University of Maine, academic year 2021-22 — in-state, Title-IV aid recipients only
Family incomeAverage net price paid
$0–$30,000$12,642
$30,001–$48,000$13,280
$48,001–$75,000$14,631
$75,001–$110,000$18,508
$110,001+$22,018
All income levels (average)$17,510

Sticker price vs. what students actually pay

Published tuition & fees (in-state), AY 2022-23
$13,326
Published tuition & fees (out-of-state), AY 2022-23
$36,756
Average net price paid (all Title-IV aid), AY 2021-22
$17,510

That works out to roughly a 36% discount below the federal AY 2021-22 average cost of attendance of $27,328 (College Scorecard — a separate, federally reported figure, not the published cost of attendance shown above).

University of Maine is a public school; Scorecard's net price figure covers in-state, Title-IV-aid-recipient payers only — there is no comparable federal figure for out-of-state students.

Outcomes for students who enrolled here

Graduation rate (150% of normal time), 2016 cohort
55%
First-year retention rate, 2021 cohort
83%
Median debt at completion, 2020–2021 completers
$25,000 (~$265/mo on a 10-yr plan)
Median earnings, 10 years after entry (measured 2020-21)
$48,653
Share of students receiving a Pell grant, AY 2021-22
29%
Share of students receiving a federal loan, AY 2021-22
54%
See other scholarships and cost examples

If your student brings another scholarship

Outside scholarships only trigger an aid adjustment if total aid would exceed the cost of attendance (or the student's aid eligibility cap); below that ceiling, awards are not displaced.

Verified policy language (2026-07-02): "If the total amount of financial aid you receive from all sources exceeds your cost of attendance or exceeds your financial need as determined on the FAFSA, we may be required to reduce some of your aid in accordance with federal regulations."

Source

Other University of Maine scholarships worth checking

These awards can be harder to find. Each one has its own rules.

Amount$25,110 per year (Flagship Match line on the same page lists $16,200; Flagship Leaders $9,000-$12,000)EligibilityInternational students who graduate from a Maine high school, attending UMaine or UMaine at Machias.

Tuition-matching award that lowers the international/out-of-state tuition-and-fee cost to match a full-pay Maine resident. Separate residency category from in-state/out-of-state; included as a notable option, not a core domestic tier.

Source

AmountReduced regional tuition (2026-27 New England Regional total COA $41,826 vs out-of-state $57,006)EligibilityStudents from New England states enrolling in an eligible (RSP-approved) major not offered at their home-state publics.

A regional tuition-rate program, not an automatic merit scholarship; listed on the UMaine merit hub as a separate category. Reduces sticker tuition for qualifying New England students.

Source

University of Maine merit aid FAQ

  • Do I have to apply separately for UMaine merit scholarships?

    No. UMaine automatically considers all admissions applicants for admissions-based merit scholarships using your application, high-school GPA, rigor of coursework, and residency. No separate scholarship application is required. (Maine Top Scholars are selected by the university; National Merit Award requires NMSC semi-finalist/finalist status.)

  • What is the scholarship deadline?

    Submit your complete admissions application by Dec. 1, 2025 to be considered for the maximum award. Maine residents/Canadians who apply by Dec. 1 are eligible for the $2,000-$9,000 range (vs $2,000-$5,000 after); out-of-state applicants who apply early action may receive an additional $3,000-$5,000 Early Action Award. UMaine also encourages filing the FAFSA by March 1, though FAFSA is not required for merit.

  • How much is the Flagship Match for out-of-state students?

    The 2026-27 first-year out-of-state page lists the Flagship Match Commitment at $13,583 to $19,311 per year, and the Flagship Leaders Commitment at $9,000-$12,000 per year. The Flagship Match is designed so eligible out-of-state students pay roughly the same tuition-and-fees as their home state's public flagship; the exact amount varies by home state. The current page does not list which states qualify — ask Admissions to confirm.

  • What GPA do I need to keep my scholarship?

    Most admissions-based awards are renewable for up to 8 semesters / 120 credits if you meet a minimum cumulative GPA each year — UMaine sends a formal letter with the exact GPA you must maintain (the general pages do not publish that number). The Maine Top Scholars and UMaine National Merit Award require a 3.3 GPA and full-time enrollment to renew.

See sources and other schools

How University of Maine compares

  • 235 of 749 verified schools in our dataset use cost-of-attendance cap displacement.

    University of Maine is in a recognizable cluster (235 schools share this category). That framing matters when comparing peer schools that may publish the policy differently or not at all.

  • 665 of 749 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.

    University of Maine is one of them. The cohort minority (84 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

  • 132 of 749 verified schools publish a dedicated National Merit Finalist package.

    University of Maine is one of them. NMF packages typically carry their own stacking and renewal carve-outs separate from the standard automatic merit ladder; confirm those before assuming the headline NMF value is final.

Sources used on this page

Every claim is checked against University of Maine’s own published materials. Below is the full reference set.

Compare with similar schools

Keep exploring University of Maine merit aid

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