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Off-Campus Housing Near University of Southern Maine
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine spreads about 8,022 students across two campuses: a quiet residential one in Gorham and a lively urban one in Portland on Casco Bay. The split gives student life a double personality. Gorham is a small New England town with parks and trails, while Portland puts you in a working waterfront city of cobblestone streets and sea air. The free Husky Line shuttle runs between the two all day, so plenty of students sleep in one and study in the other. Portland's neighborhoods each have a flavor, from the brick blocks of the Old Port to the trails along Back Cove and the views from Munjoy Hill and the Eastern Promenade. With the ocean right there and the mountains not far, the outdoors is part of every week here.
University of Southern Maine Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
USM does not impose a blanket freshman live-on requirement the way many schools do, so first-year students have more flexibility about where they sleep. To live in university housing you generally need to be enrolled full-time, with exceptions handled by Residential Life or the Disability Services Center.
Off-Campus Eligibility
Most on-campus beds sit in Gorham, with a newer Portland residence hall mainly for upperclassmen and grad students. When students move off campus, USM partners with a listings service that lets you browse rentals, find roommates, and post sublets.
Lease Timing
Portland's rental market is tight and competitive, so move early. Read leases for who pays heat, which matters a lot through a Maine winter, confirm parking since Portland street parking comes with permits and seasonal plow rules, and check the legal occupancy and whether the unit is winterized before you sign.