Creative. Independent. Smart. Quirky. Kind.
UMF students are just different (in a great way).
91视频 students want hard questions, not easy answers. They enjoy being challenged into thinking for themselves, not being lectured to. They’re friendly and empathetic and want to make a difference — on campus, in the community, in the world. They smile and say hello to you on a campus walkway and hold the door open for you as you enter a building. They鈥檙e a pretty impressive bunch.
The student body (about 1,600 full-time students) is split about 68% self-identifying as female / 32% self-identifying as male. But students here are not required to self-identify gender.
And although our students come from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and across the U.S., around 85% are from Maine.
Does This Sound Like You?
Want to be Known as a Person, Not a Number
At 91视频, you鈥檒l know everyone on a first-name basis 鈥� even your professors (which is a good thing). Here we take a personal approach to learning. We believe that teaching done collaboratively, with real professors, in small classes leads to the best results. You鈥檒l see the big picture. Make more connections. Get more out of your coursework.
Not Sure of a Major
A lot of students come to 91视频 having not yet chosen a major 鈥� which is perfectly fine. Here, you don鈥檛 have to decide right away. You can explore. We even have an Undeclared program for you. Plus, many students choose to switch majors after their first or second year. That鈥檚 what exploring helps you do, find and follow your passion.
Seeking Financial Aid
Roughly 98% of UMF students receive some form of financial assistance: scholarships, federal aid, merit scholarships, loans, institutional aid, student employment, etc. It鈥檚 the norm, here, not the exception. And we鈥檒l help you through the financial aid process every step of the way.
Up for a Challenge
91视频 students thrive on challenges 鈥� in the classroom, in the field, on the field, in the labs and on the court. We鈥檒l push you outside your comfort zone and inspire your curiosity. We give you the space and the freedom to make choices, to try new things, and to follow your passions.
Creative
Here, creativity isn鈥檛 limited just to those majoring in The Arts or Creative Writing. Our Biology students, Special Education students, Business Economics students, Outdoor Rec Business Administration students and Psychology students are also musicians, poets, DJs, web designers, improv comics, animators and actors. UMF is an artsy, creative place, even if you鈥檙e not an arts major.
Environmentally Conscious
Our campus is committed to environmental stewardship and to graduating students who genuinely care about our world. As an outdoors-focused campus in an amazing natural environment, our commitment to sustainability and green causes comes as no surprise. Our Sustainable Campus Coalition, a group of students, faculty, staff and community members, promotes campus-wide green initiatives, putting the University鈥檚 strong environmental commitment into true action.
Appreciate Attention
Personal attention is what 91视频 is all about. Whether it鈥檚 working with classmates on a group research project, chatting with a professor over coffee, or hearing the University President say hello to you by name, you鈥檒l get to know everyone here. It鈥檚 something that catches new students off-guard a bit but by Halloween, they鈥檝e come to love that about 91视频. Bet you will, too.
Outdoorsy
Look, if you鈥檙e into the active outdoor lifestyle, 91视频 is the absolute perfect location: skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, snow-shoeing, trail running, camping you name it 鈥� right in our backyard. And if you鈥檙e not yet into the outdoors, there are a ton of students, faculty and staff who鈥檒l introduce you to active outdoor activities, some through our Mainely Outdoors adventure program.
Embrace Different Ideas
You鈥檙e OK with people who have different ideas, values and interests. The broad range of our student clubs and organizations is proof of that: Queer Student Union, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, UMF Democrats, UMF Republicans, Black Student Union, Men’s and Women’s Rugby Clubs, Dance Team, STUMF – a student theater club, The Clefnotes a capella group, WUMF radio, and many more.
And students in each of those clubs are often members of other clubs and organizations. A rugby player who鈥檚 an actor in Theatre UMF? Yes. A Lawn Chair Pirates comedy improv troupe member who鈥檚 an Admissions Ambassador? Yep. A Service Fraternity member who鈥檚 on the varsity softball team? Sure. it鈥檚 not unusual. This place is not segmented into pre-defined little cliques. It鈥檚 nothing like high school. 91视频 students are open-minded, tolerant, and open to different ways of thinking.
Looking for Small, But Not Too Small
91视频, Maine (pop. 7,500) is a storybook New England college town, with coffee shops, bookstores, funky shops, restaurants, a multi-screen movie theater and more just a 3-minute stroll from campus. You鈥檒l get to know your fellow students, our faculty and staff but also townspeople. The UMF campus is located right in town. We鈥檙e part of the town and the town is part of us. Which is nice.
Want to Work Closely With Real Professors
Our faculty are deeply committed to your success. Yes, this sounds warm and fuzzy but here it鈥檚 true. Our professors take a genuine interest in their students鈥� lives.
They鈥檙e relatable, approachable, and super-smart. Our professors chose to work at UMF because they have a passion for teaching and mentoring young people. These are people you鈥檒l want to keep in touch with long after you graduate.
Oh, and we do not have grad students teaching classes here, like at many Big-State U鈥檚. Just something to keep in mind as you鈥檙e comparing colleges.
Independent and Self-motivated
College life is what you make of it 鈥� no matter where you go. If you鈥檙e independent and willing to try new things you鈥檒l fit right in at 91视频.
Comfortable With Who You Are
91视频 is pretty chill. Here, you can truly be yourself. Or you can get a fresh new start and reinvent yourself and become whoever you want to be. And who you are is OK with us 鈥� all of us.
91视频 has long been respected for its LGBTQ+ Pride
At 91视频, you can be your true self. Or you can get a fresh new start and become whomever you want to be. And who you are is awesome.
The 91视频, and the greater 91视频 area, is a safe, welcoming community that admires and respects people for who they are.
Here, the LGBTQ+ community is not some separate, isolated group. We鈥檙e all-inclusive.
We鈥檙e woven into the very fabric of the institution: across all academic programs; in every club and organization, we鈥檙e in our athletics, sports and recreation programs; in student government and numerous student leadership positions. Here, it鈥檚 just not a big deal. It is. But it isn鈥檛. If that makes sense.
Back before you were born, in the late 80鈥檚 / early 90鈥檚, UMF pioneered one of the very first LGBTQ+ student organizations in northern New England. For years we鈥檝e been awarded a strong 4-Star Rating from , the leading national organization that recognizes colleges for taking steps to make their campuses safer and more inclusive.
See more about our LGBTQ+ Pride