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South Portland MarinaPhoto: Peter Dutton from Forest Hills, Queens, USA · CC BY 2.0
Colleges in and near South Portland

South Portland is home to Southern Maine Community College

Southern Maine Community College (5,470 students on campus) is inside the city, and the University of Southern Maine (5,699) is 2.3 miles from the center, just over the line in Portland. About 8% of South Portland’s residents are enrolled in college, above Maine (6%).

University of Southern MaineSouthern Maine Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of South Portland. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
15,329 students on campus
Nearest college
2.1 mi
Maine College of Art & Design
Residents in college
8%
Above ME (6%)
Nearest community college
3 mi
Southern Maine · $4,156 tuition
Nearest public university
2.3 mi
University of Southern Maine · $11,284 in-state
Median household income
$87K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in South Portland

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

Two colleges within 3 milesUniversity of Southern Maine admits 79% of applicants. Together they have 11,169 students on campus.In-state price at University of Southern MaineLiving in Maine, the University of Southern Maine charges $11,284 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $27,944. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 3 miles awaySouthern Maine Community College in South Portland: tuition and fees $4,156 a year for Maine residents.Students are 8% of residentsAbove Maine (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of South Portland

Two private colleges within 12.9 miles, one public college within 2.3 miles, and Southern Maine Community College 3 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Southern MaineSouthern MaineUniversity of New EnglandSouth Portland
University or collegeCommunity college
Maine College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 470 on campus · 2.1 mi · Portland76%admitted$38knet price52%graduate$41kearningsUniversity of Southern MaineUniversity or college · Public · 5,699 on campus · 2.3 mi · Portland79%admitted$14knet price40%graduate$50kearningsSouthern Maine Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 5,470 on campus · In South Portland$11knet price28%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $4,156 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of New EnglandUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 3,690 on campus · 12.9 mi · Biddeford92%admitted$38knet price68%graduate$56kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where South Portland’s median household income ($86,838) falls.

Southern Maine Community CollegeIn South Portland · sticker $18,531 · tuition $4,156$12,946a year
University of Southern Maine2.3 mi · Portland · sticker $23,717$16,750a year
University of New England12.9 mi · Biddeford · sticker $63,245$36,237a year
Maine College of Art & Design2.1 mi · Portland · sticker $60,128$40,992a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of South Portland: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Maine College of Art & DesignUniversity of Southern MaineSouthern MaineUniversity of New England
University of Southern Maine40% graduate$50k earnings$19k typical debt
Southern Maine Community College28% graduate$42k earnings$10k typical debt
University of New England68% graduate$56k earnings$25k typical debt
Maine College of Art & Design52% graduate$41k earnings$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in South Portland

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Southern Maine Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 27%Liberal arts 16%Business 11%Mechanics & repair 6%Communications tech 6%Computer science 6%Everything else 29%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities111 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations109 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing103 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions45 graduates a year
$73k4 yrs out
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General40 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management27 graduates a year
$62k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections26 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians18 graduates a year
$83k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in South Portland

Is South Portland a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 South Portland residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Maine (6). The largest campus in the city, Southern Maine Community College, has 5,470 students on campus.

What colleges are in South Portland?

Southern Maine Community College is inside the city. the University of Southern Maine is 2.3 miles from the center, in Portland.

What is the closest community college to South Portland, and what does it cost?

Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, 3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,156 a year for Maine residents; the federal net price, $11,086, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Southern Maine cost if we live in Maine?

Tuition and fees are $11,284 a year in-state and $27,944 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,999 (under $30,000 income) to $19,180 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of South Portland. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →