College of the Atlantic

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1969; the first class enrolled in 1972
• Currently accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
• Awards a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology rather than a menu of conventional undergraduate majors
• Authorized for bachelor's and limited master's degrees

Student Life & Environment

Student life is closely connected to the college's small residential setting and participatory culture. The institution provides on-campus housing, dining, outdoor programs, student activities, work-study, and health and wellness services. Its support network includes counseling, a health center, academic support, international student services, the Writing Center, and career development. Students without other health coverage must enroll in the college health plan, so this should be included when comparing costs. Clubs and activities are student-driven and may change from year to year. The college describes a mix of organized groups and informal events involving outdoor recreation, arts, identity and advocacy, publications, sports, and community discussions. Students can also participate in institutional governance alongside faculty and staff, making committee work and shared decision-making a visible part of community life. The setting makes outdoor activity unusually accessible, with hiking, boating, field research, and other place-based opportunities nearby. Work-study positions can connect students with operations such as farms, marine research, the museum, library, dining, outdoor programs, and academic labs. Residential expectations should be confirmed for the relevant entering class; the current admitted-student guidance says transfer students are not required to live on campus, while housing forms and meal-plan selections are part of the enrollment process.

Location & Surroundings

The main campus is at 105 Eden Street in Bar Harbor, on the coast of Mount Desert Island in Maine. It sits on Frenchman Bay near downtown Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. This location supports direct access to marine, ecological, agricultural, and community-based learning, but it also means students should consider the realities of a small coastal town, seasonal tourism, winter weather, and transportation when evaluating fit. COA's learning environment extends beyond its oceanfront campus. Officially identified sites include Beech Hill Farm, Peggy Rockefeller Farm, the Great Duck Island research station, Mount Desert Rock, and Frenchman Bay waterfront programs. These facilities support work in agriculture, conservation, seabird ecology, marine mammals, and boating. Regional access is more limited than at an urban campus. The college directs visitors to Bangor International Airport and the smaller Bar Harbor Airport, along with regional shuttle options. Downtown services, restaurants, cultural venues, and outdoor recreation are close to campus, while broader travel may require advance planning or a car. Applicants should visit in different seasons if climate, remoteness, or access to a major city will materially affect their experience.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, COA publishes tuition of $50,895, mandatory fees of $549, housing of $7,059, and food of $5,178. These total $63,681 in billed charges. The college estimates another $600 for books and supplies and $758 for miscellaneous expenses including travel, producing an estimated annual cost of attendance of $65,039. Health insurance is additional for students who cannot document other coverage, and international students should also budget for visa costs, international insurance, and higher travel expenses. These current figures supersede the older tuition and room-and-board values stored in the supplied database record. The college states that more than 80% of students receive some form of aid. Domestic applicants seeking federal or institutional need-based aid submit the FAFSA using school code 011385 and may be asked for supporting financial documents. International applicants use COA's financial-aid application and Certification of Finances; aid for most international students is limited and admission is need-aware. All applicants are considered automatically for general merit awards, while named scholarships can have separate eligibility or forms. Career preparation is integrated into the degree rather than confined to an optional service. Every undergraduate completes an internship, and the career development office assists with internship planning, job searches, résumés, interviews, networking, and graduate-school applications. The required community service and senior project add further evidence of applied and independent work. No current, institution-specific salary or placement rate was found in the selected official sources, so prospective students should ask for outcomes relevant to their intended pathway rather than infer results from the broad human ecology degree.