The University of Maine in Orono offers two fully online graduate GIS programs: a 15-credit Graduate Certificate in Geographic Information Systems and a 30-credit M.S. in Spatial Computing, formerly called Spatial Informatics. Both are run by the School of Computing and Information Science, need no GRE, and charge online students the same rate regardless of state.
These are computing-focused GIS programs. Alongside GIS principles and spatial analysis, students take programming and database courses, and M.S. electives include GeoAI, machine learning and sensor networks. UMaine also offers an online MaineMBA with a Geospatial Technologies concentration. It has no fully online undergraduate geography or GIS degree.
Program at a Glance
| Certificate | Graduate Certificate in GIS, 15 credits |
| Degree | M.S. in Spatial Computing, 30 credits, coursework only |
| Also online | MaineMBA, Geospatial Technologies concentration (33 credits) |
| Format | 100% online; rolling admission |
| Tuition (2026–27) | $651 per credit, same for all states, plus $64 per credit in fees |
| GRE | Not required |
| Accreditation | New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) |
Graduate Certificate in GIS
The certificate requires four courses plus one elective (15 credits):
| Course | Credits | Term |
|---|---|---|
| SIE 507 Information Systems Programming | 3 | Fall |
| SIE 509 Principles of GIS | 3 | Fall |
| SIE 510 GIS Applications or SIE 512 Spatial Analysis | 3 | Spring / Fall |
| SIE 557 Database System Applications | 3 | Spring |
| One elective: Formal Foundations for Information Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Information Systems Law, Design of Information Systems, Spatial Database Systems or Real-Time Sensor Data Streams | 3 | Varies |
M.S. in Spatial Computing
The M.S. is a 30-credit, non-thesis degree: a 15-credit core plus five electives. Certificate courses overlap with the core.
Core (15 credits)
- SIE 505 Formal Foundations for Information Science or SIE 580 Ontology Engineering
- SIE 507 Information Systems Programming
- SIE 509 Principles of GIS
- SIE 510 GIS Applications or SIE 512 Spatial Analysis
- SIE 557 Database System Applications
Electives (choose five)
Options include Object-Oriented Programming, GeoAI, Spatial Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Spatial Reasoning, Spatial Database Systems, Real-Time Sensor Data Streams, Geosensor Networks, Machine Learning in Practice and an Information Systems Internship (3–6 credits).
How the Online Format Works
- Fully online: UMaine lists both programs as 100% online, and says most SIE courses run both online and on campus.
- Course timing: many courses are offered only in fall or only in spring, so plan your sequence with an advisor.
- Live sessions: current program pages do not say whether courses include scheduled live meetings. Ask before you enroll.
- Admission: rolling, with priority deadlines of August 1 (fall) and January 1 (spring) for the M.S.
Admission Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA (lower GPAs reviewed case by case)
- No GRE or GMAT
- Résumé, official transcripts and a short essay
- M.S. only: college-level algebra; programming experience recommended but not required
UMaine does not list the application fee on these program pages. Sources: certificate page and M.S. page.
Tuition and Fees
| Item | 2026–27 |
|---|---|
| Online graduate tuition | $651 per credit, all states |
| Infrastructure and technology fee | $29 per credit |
| Online course fee | $35 per credit |
| Graduate activity fee | $60–$75 per term |
| Certificate (15 credits) | About $10,700 with per-credit fees |
| M.S. (30 credits) | About $21,500 with per-credit fees |
Totals are our calculation from UMaine’s 2026–27 tuition and fees. The online MBA is billed at $780 per credit.
Faculty and Department
The programs sit in UMaine’s School of Computing and Information Science within the Maine College of Engineering and Computing. UMaine is a founding member of the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science (UCGIS). Its spatial computing courses span spatial databases, sensor networks, spatial reasoning and GeoAI.
Careers
UMaine aims these programs at GIS practitioners in business, industry and government. Common roles for graduates of programs like this include GIS analyst, GIS developer and geospatial database administrator. UMaine does not publish outcomes data for the online programs.
Pros and Considerations
Strengths
- Same online rate for every state
- Programming, databases and GeoAI alongside core GIS
- Certificate courses count toward the M.S.
- No GRE
Things to Consider
- Graduate only; no online geography or GIS bachelor’s
- Computing-heavy, with little human or physical geography
- Some courses run only once a year
- Live-session requirements not stated
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Maine offer an online GIS program?
Yes. UMaine offers a fully online 15-credit Graduate Certificate in GIS and a 30-credit online M.S. in Spatial Computing.
How much does UMaine’s online GIS certificate cost?
For 2026–27, tuition is $651 per credit for online students in any state, plus $64 per credit in fees, or about $10,700 for 15 credits.
Is Spatial Computing the same as Spatial Informatics at UMaine?
Yes. UMaine Online now calls the degree the M.S. in Spatial Computing, while some university pages still use the older Spatial Informatics name.
Does UMaine require the GRE for its online GIS programs?
No. Neither the certificate nor the M.S. requires the GRE or GMAT.
Compare UMaine with other programs in our online geography and GIS degree guide, or see campus programs in Maine.
Official Sources
We verified this profile against the following school pages in October 2026. Program details change, so confirm current requirements and costs with the school before you apply.