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Bar Harbor, ME
The College of the Atlantic is a unique institution located on the rugged coast of Bar Harbor, Maine. Founded in 1969, it was the first college in the United States to focus exclusively on the study of human ecology. The college offers a distinctive interdisciplinary curriculum for undergraduate students, emphasizing the relationship between humans and the environment. With a small student population of just over 300, the college provides an intimate and collaborative learning environment that encourages students to become innovative problem solvers and changemakers.
At the College of the Atlantic, all students develop their own major, allowing them to customize their education to suit their individual interests and goals. The curriculum revolves around three areas of concentration: human ecology, arts and design, and global studies. Through these concentrations, students explore topics such as sustainability, environmental justice, conservation biology, literature, and international relations. The college also places great emphasis on experiential learning, and all students are required to complete an off-campus internship or conduct original research in their area of interest.
One of the hallmarks of the College of the Atlantic is its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. The campus, nestled in the breathtaking Acadia National Park, is powered entirely by wind and solar energy. Moreover, the college offers numerous programs and initiatives focused on sustainability, ranging from sustainable agriculture and renewable energy studies to food justice and marine policy. With its strong focus on holistic education, sustainability, and promoting positive environmental change, the College of the Atlantic continues to be a leading institution in the field of human ecology.
College of the Atlantic is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Bar Harbor, ME. This educational institution operates on a trimester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 68%. The freshman retention rate at College of the Atlantic is 64% and the six-year graduation rate is 68%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is February 1. For transfer students, the application deadline is March 15.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about College of the Atlantic.
Quick Facts
360
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$45,630
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
68%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to increase your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Here are the most important data you should know about admission at College of the Atlantic.
According to the newest data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 306 in 2024. College of the Atlantic has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant decides to submit them. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is very difficult to get into. Having a long tradition of academic success and a dedication to encouraging intellectual curiosity, College of the Atlantic provides a superior educational experience.
Test Scores
Out of the number of students who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 27% and ACT scores 5%. 32% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 59% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 9% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 100 and 30 between 24-29.
The ACT composite average score for all the accepted students in 2024 was 30 and the average GPA was 3.8. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into College of the Atlantic; the same goes for your ACT score.
The new students had an average SAT Critical Reading score of 693 and an average SAT Math score of 646.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is February 1. If you plan on applying as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The student retention rate is the percentage of students who re-enroll from one year to the next. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2024, the freshman retention rate for College of the Atlantic was 64%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. It reflects the proportion of students who obtain their degrees within the expected timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 68%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the school enrolled 365 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 88% for that year. There was a total of 360 undergraduate students, including 77 international students. The school admitted a total of 21 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 103 male and 246 female full-time students in 2024. 2 full-time graduate men and 1 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higher Education is dedicated to increasing student diversity and enhancing students' feelings of inclusion and belonging. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 5, while the number of Black American students was 1. 22 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 7 as multirace. There were also 5 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you send an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. The most recent data reported regarding the expenses for attending this school are detailed below.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for College of the Atlantic is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $45,630 in 2024. As College of the Atlantic is a private institution, there is no difference in tuition for out-of-state or international students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students totaled $549 in 2024.
Books and Supplies
The approximate price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another important expense. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $600.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at College of the Atlantic was $10,101 in 2024. If you only needed a dormitory room, it cost $6,396 for the 2024 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 45,630 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,101 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 600 |
| Total Expense | $ 56,331 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial help can be a great deal for a number of students. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid you might get at College of the Atlantic.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 74 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $42,259 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
287 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at College of the Atlantic is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 287. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $519,628, and state $69,715. The students of College of the Atlantic received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $10,068,806, and external in the amount of $101,364.
$14,969
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
6 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2024. 1 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,086,306. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $34,285 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
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BA in Human Ecology
BA in Human Ecology
ApplyStart Year: 2025
Start Term: Fall
Application Deadline: 2025-03-15
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2024, this ratio at College of the Atlantic was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 52. Out of that number, there were 29 male and 23 female faculty members.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at College of the Atlantic: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some details about students' life at College of the Atlantic.
It has a campus size of 35 acres.
Student Organizations
Engaging with a variety of student organizations can enrich your educational experience and make it more rewarding.
There are 20 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization that has the biggest membership is Board Gaming Club, followed by Futbol (soccer) Club and Campus Committee for Sustainability. Other popular student organizations at this school are Outing Club and Earth in Brackets [earth].
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.
Student Services
At College of the Atlantic, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services are available to the students of College of the Atlantic.
All in all, campus life at College of the Atlantic is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at College of the Atlantic.
Career Counselling
At College of the Atlantic, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME.
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College of the Atlantic offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 45,630 USD per academic year for College of the Atlantic.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for College of the Atlantic is 68%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for College of the Atlantic is 64%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.