College of the Atlantic

About College of the Atlantic

Thinking about College of the Atlantic, a college in Maine where more students graduate in Liberal Arts than anything else? The four things worth knowing are what it actually costs after aid, whether you would get in, whether students finish, and what they earn after they do.

College of the Atlantic is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Bar Harbor, Maine. It enrolls 353 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Every figure on this page is reported by the federal government, not supplied by the college, so it can be compared like for like against anywhere else you are looking.

Official website: coa.edu

Acceptance

70.2%

Graduation

45.5%

Net Price

$25,184

Median Earnings (10yr)

$40,264

Enrollment

353

Student : Faculty

10:1

How It Measures Up

These four scores answer one question: compared with similar colleges, is this one worth the money? Each runs 0 to 100 and is judged only against its peer group (4-Year Selective), so a community college is never marked down for not being Harvard. Everything is computed from federal data. Nobody can pay to move a score, and a pillar with missing data is left unscored rather than guessed.

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

College of the Atlantic admits 70.2% of applicants, which makes it moderately selective, and realistic if you meet the academic profile.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether College of the Atlantic is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Cost & Financial Aid

Ignore the sticker price. What matters is the net price, which is what a typical family pays here after grants and scholarships come off. At $25,184 a year on average, it sits in line with what private nonprofit colleges charge nationally. Plan for the gap between that and what you can pay without borrowing. Figures are College Scorecard 2023-24.

The average hides a wide spread by household income, so it is worth estimating what a family at your income would actually pay before treating this as the price.

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees

$47,997

Room & Board (on-campus)

$10,404

Room & Board (off-campus)

$5,997

Books & Supplies

$600

Other Expenses (on-campus)

$1,386

Other Expenses (off-campus)

$1,386

Total Cost of Attendance

$58,266

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

• Under $30,000
  $20,415
• $30,001 – $48,000
  $13,942
• $48,001 – $75,000
  $16,650
• $75,001 – $110,000
  $26,266
• Over $110,000
  $34,684

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

Graduation Rate & Retention

46% of students who start here finish within six years, and 84% come back after first year. Fewer than half finish in six years. Ask what support exists for students who fall behind. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

Completion and earnings carry the most weight in this college's score, and how the UCD Score weighs each measure sets out exactly how they are combined.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

Ten years after starting here, the median student earns $40,264 a year, close to the national median. Typical for most colleges, so what you study will matter more than where. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Who Studies Here

Who you would actually be sitting next to: 353 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at College of the Atlantic. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

What You Can Study

College of the Atlantic offers a focused set of programs: 2 distinct programs across 1 major. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

Faculty & Resources

There are 10 students for every instructor here: small classes, and staff who are likely to know your name.

Faculty by Rank

31 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Pros & Cons of College of the Atlantic

No college is right for everyone. Here is where College of the Atlantic is likely to suit you and where it may not, based on the same figures shown above.

Read against a single profile these cut both ways, which is why it helps to put two colleges side by side on the same measures rather than judging one in isolation.