University of Maine, Orono, USA

Overview

History, Affiliations & Rankings
 
Established in 1862 by President Abraham Lincoln under the provisions of the Morrill Act, the University of Maine (UMaine) was initially named Maine College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts. The first class was held in 1868 with 13 students and the institute got its current name in 1897. It upholds its 150-year legacy by offering strong traditional education at affordable costs. The University of Maine is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), the oldest regional accrediting association in the United States. According to the US News rankings 2020 edition, University of Maine is overall ranked #202 in National Universities.
 
Infrastructure, Campus & Courses
 
The main campus of UMaine is located in Orono, Maine, and the 660-acre property is dotted with academic buildings, dining halls, 17 residence halls, 2 villages, fitness centers and other facilities for the convenience of the students. There are multiple colleges associated with the University, including College of Education and Human Development, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Honors College and Maine Business School.

There are more than 200 organizations for students to join and find others with a similar mindset. There are 18 Fraternities and 9 Sororities, along with Greek life organizations. There are both graduate and undergraduate programs offered at the university. Students here can choose any of the 100 plus degree programs. The top majors are Engineering, Science, Computer Science, and Business.
 
Accomplishments & Alumni
 
In 2017, the university received more than $57 million in the form of research awards and spent more than $99 million on research and development. It stands among the best public universities for research according to the National Science Foundation. It is also the state's only public research university with 16 interdisciplinary research centers and 15 emerging areas of excellence.

Some of the most notable personalities associated with the university include Lawrence Bender (film producer), Biff Elliot (actor and sportscaster), Stephen King (author), Nick DiPaolo (comedian) and Brad Sullivan (actor). In the field of politics, John Baldacci (former Governor of Maine), Joseph E. Brennan (a member of the United States House of Representatives), Emily Cain (State Legislator and former candidate for U.S. Congress) and Peter Edgecomb (State Representative from Caribou) are some of the prominent personalities.
 
 Student Diversity & Visiting Companies
 
UMaine has a total of 11,404 students. The gender ratio is 52.8% male and 47.2% female students. Out of the total strength, 9,365 students are pursuing undergraduate programs while 2,039 are enrolled in graduate courses. The university has students from 62 countries and 49 U.S. states. 100 % of students feel like they are getting their money's worth out of their program. UMaine suggests that international students make up about 4.0% of the student body which shows that the university is quite welcoming towards international students. Top recruiters include Tyler Technologies, IDEXX, Unum, Northern Light Health and many more.