Beckoning college students nationwide whose studies were interrupted by COVID-19, the University of Maine System is offering in-state tuition to everyone.
In what it billed as a first-of-its-kind measure, Maine’s public universities announced the The Maine Welcome discount for any successful college student or law student displaced by a crisis-related closure of a U.S. institution of higher education.
The University of Maine System also said it will extend the pricing as a component of teach-out agreements with schools permanently closing and seeking ways for students to complete their coursework.
Proposed tuition rates will be voted on by the UMS Board of Trustees in May.
The proposed average in-state tuition for full-time attendance at a University of Maine System institution for the upcoming academic year is $8,071 for undergraduates and $23,190 for law school students. Average academic year tuition is based on 15 credit hours per semester for two semesters.
“College instability has never been a bigger threat to student success. The higher education marketplace was in the midst of a disruptive transition before a global health pandemic upended the spring semester and eliminated billions of dollars in campus revenues at colleges and universities,” said Chancellor Dannel Malloy in a statement.
“Institutions serving tens of thousands of learners will unfortunately close and successful students are going to need a place to fulfill their college dreams.
He added: “The Maine Welcome invites stranded students from all 50 states to finish with us and pay the same tuition as Maine residents at our highly affordable, high-quality public universities.”
The University of Maine System on Tuesday unveiled preliminary plans for reopening its campuses this fall, if allowed under public health rules. The system has been closed since March 22 because of concerns about the spread of COVID-19.
