It’s actually quite common for most USM undergraduates to go do their 2 years of gen eds at SMCC and the transfer over. It is considerably cheaper. USM actually has a “don’t reject” policy that says, if you meet the criteria for college, you will not be turned down. This means as long as you took the SATs, have a high school diploma or GED, and apply, you are pretty much guaranteed acceptance.

But like the others said, take the gen eds at SMCC first, then transfer over. Most gen eds will transfer over, some are even taught by the same instructor, and as a recent grad you get the free tuition to Main community colleges, resulting in about $750 savings per class.

If you do this for EMCC, there are the same opportunities available. Plus, depending on the program, you would earn enough credits for an associate’s degree from the community college, then transfer into a 4 year program and take advantage of the Maine educational opportunity tax credit on the two year degree while you earn your 4 year.