For more than a century, the University of Maine at Presque Isle has been helping students find their path to great professional careers. We provide 1,400 traditional and non-traditional students with life-changing opportunities in a caring, small-university environment. UMPI combines liberal arts and selected professional programs and serves as a cultural and educational resource for the entire region. As a nonprofit public institution, UMPI operates under the supervision of publicly appointed officials, and is supported primarily by public funds. UMPI is one of seven autonomous campuses within the University of Maine System.
The University has adopted a learning focus that encompasses everything we do–from work in the classroom to student life to the career preparation efforts we offer. It’s called Personalized Learning and it gives you a voice and choice in your education while providing the opportunities you need to develop the skills and self-confidence to succeed in life. And our work environment is second to none. In Fall 2020, UMPI was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for by The Great Colleges to Work For program.
Our campus sits on 150 acres surrounded by the rolling hills and potato fields of northern Maine. The city of Presque Isle offers opportunities for both summer and winter outdoor sports and is the primary commercial center of the region. Combining clean air, clear skies, and safe small-town life next door to the Northern Maine Woods, it also boasts blue-ribbon schools, a regional airport, and easy access to nearby Canada. Want to learn more about our neck of the woods? Just take a peek at our region.
UMPI Now
Students come from all areas of Maine and the U.S., as well as several foreign countries including Canada, to complete their undergraduate and graduate work. The University strives to be the region’s premier learning institution while helping to stimulate cultural and economic development in Aroostook County and the State of Maine. The University serves as an educational and cultural center for the area and is host to many state and regional conferences. Its facilities are utilized for lectures, programs, concerts, dance performances, exhibits, and plays that benefit the entire region.
UMPI History
The University was founded in 1903 as the Aroostook State Normal School by the Maine State Legislature following the work of dedicated citizens who saw the growing need for post-secondary education in central Aroostook County. The University has undergone four name changes since then: in 1952, it was renamed The Aroostook State Teachers College; in 1965, it became The Aroostook State College; three years later, it was renamed The Aroostook State College of the University of Maine; and since 1971, it has been known as The University of Maine at Presque Isle. Get more details about our institution’s history here.