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College of the Atlantic

College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME · Rural · 353 students
Website Common App Forbes ranking Scorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$25,184
Average net priceYour net price
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
69%
Graduation rate
69% typical
$40,264
Earnings 10 years on
$58,391 typical
70%
Acceptance rate
64% typical · not scored
Accredited by New England Commission on Higher Education
About

College of the Atlantic is renowned for its singular, interdisciplinary academic focus, offering just one degree—a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology—which allows students to design highly individualized courses of study spanning environmental science, marine biology, sustainable food systems, and public policy. Situated on an oceanfront campus in Bar Harbor adjacent to Acadia National Park, the college uses the surrounding coastal ecosystems and two offshore island research stations as immersive, hands-on living laboratories. Campus life is defined by a close-knit, environmentally conscious community where students, faculty, and staff share an egalitarian model of college governance and a deep commitment to ecological sustainability.

Wikipedia:College of the Atlantic (COA) is a private liberal arts college in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Founded in 1969, it awards two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree solely in the field of human ecology, using an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Focus areas include arts and design, environmental sciences, humanities, international studies, sustainable food systems, teacher certification and educational studies, and socially responsible business. The College of the Atlantic is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Location
Bar Harbor, ME, 04609 · Rural campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
BGR · Bangor
41 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
YoursEveryone
Tuition & fees$47,997
Housing & food (on campus)$10,404
Books & supplies$600
Cost of attendance$65,039
Average net price$25,184
Same price for all students
Tuition & fees$47,997
Housing & food (on campus)$10,404
Books & supplies$600
Cost of attendance$65,039
Average net price$25,184
Source: U.S. College Scorecard · published total: www.coa.edu
How it’s made up
Tuition$50,895
Fees$549
Housing$7,059
Food$5,178
Books & supplies$600
Personal expenses$758
Total published by the school$65,039
Source: www.coa.edu
Net price by family income
$0–30k
$20,415
$30–48k
$13,942
$48–75k
$16,650
$75–110k
$26,266
$110k+
$34,684
Grants from the school
100% of first-years get a grant from the school, averaging $35,004
Source: College Navigator (U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS)
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
69%
Within 4 yrs
57%
Back for yr 2
85%
Transferred
13%
Pell students: 66.7% · others: 68.7% 
8 yrs after starting
62% graduated · 25% transferred · 1% still enrolled · 12% left or unknown
Earnings
10 yrs after entry$40,264
Debt
Median at graduation$25,050
Monthly payment$266
Middle 50% owe$7k–$24.7k
90th percentile$28,135
Admissions
Getting in
Admit rate
70%
Test policy
Test optional
SAT average
1370
R 660–730 · M 580–700
SAT middle 50%: 1240–1430
40080012001600
Admitted students
Admit rate: men 53.8% · women 77.6% 
Yield: 23.4% of admitted students enroll 

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Essay prompts

If College of the Atlantic asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.

The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.

Student Body
Gender
Men 28%Women 72%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
9 : 1
Pell grant
28%
Family income
$57,786
Age at entry
20.0
Part-time
3%
Where first-years come from
In state (ME)
15.4%
Out of state
62.8%
International
21.8%

Most out-of-state first-years from: MA 12 · NH 5 · CA 4 · NJ 3 · PA 3

Race & ethnicity
White
69%
Hispanic
4%
Black
1%
Asian
1%
Two or more
2%
Non-resident
22%
Unknown
2%
Varsity sports

No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.

Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions
Median earnings, all programs
After 10 yrs
$40,264
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities93
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Endowment
$84M
Full-time faculty
100%
Faculty salary
$9,002/mo
Teaching spend
$18,162
per student
Federal loans
53%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — arts & sciences
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, selective admissions

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