90-Credit Applied Bachelor’s Degree Programs Pilot

There is increasing attention to 90-credit degree programs in higher education. In January 2025, the University of Maine System (UMS) Board of Trustees authorized the development of up to five 90-credit applied bachelor’s programs (total) as a pilot cohort focused exclusively on adult degree completers. These program proposals will follow the established UMS curriculum development process for new degree programs, as well as review/approval by the Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, and the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

On July 14, 2025, the UMS Board of Trustees accepted the recommendation of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and approved five 90-credit bachelor’s degree programs as a pilot program with enrollment limited to adult students, as defined by the Board, and with regular reviews by the Board of the System’s evaluation of the pilot.

The 90-credit programs are subject to final approval by the University of Maine System’s primary accreditor, the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), in November 2025.

The resources below will provide guidance and up-to-date information on developments in this innovative area.