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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 four-year college located in Bar Harbor, ME and set in a rural environment. This institution follows a trimester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 70%. The freshman retention rate at College of the Atlantic is 85% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
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 all the essential things about College of the Atlantic.
Quick Facts
353
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$48,915
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission maximizes your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for College of the Atlantic?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 334 in 2025. College of the Atlantic has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores if the applicant chooses to submit them. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
21% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 4% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 31% of the new students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 56% between 1,200 and 1,399 and 13% between 1,000 and 1,199. The percent of incoming freshmen who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 33 and 67 between 24-29.
The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 29 and the average GPA was 3.8. That means you'll most likely need an above-average GPA to get accepted as well as an above-average ACT score.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 692 for the enrolled first-year students, while the average SAT Math score was 658.
Deadlines
The cutoff date for submitting applications to this school is February 1. For transfer students, note that the application deadline is March 15.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for College of the Atlantic was 85%, demonstrating the exceptional quality of the educational experience at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Obtaining a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 358 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 86. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 353, 76 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 19.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 97 male and 249 female full-time students in 2025. 2 full-time graduate men and 1 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to focusing on the diversity of its student body and improving students' sense 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. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 4, while the number of Afro-American students was 2. 15 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 8 as multirace. There were also 6 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at College of the Atlantic that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at College of the Atlantic? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $48,915 for all full-time domestic students. College of the Atlantic is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $549 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
When you try to estimate the cost of attendance for a college or university, you need to think about the cost of books and supplies you're going to need. The estimated expense of books and supplies for a full-time student of this school is $600.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at College of the Atlantic amounted to $10,716 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 came to $6,786 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $6,786.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 48,915 |
| Room and Board | $ 10,716 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 600 |
| Total Expense | $ 60,231 |
Financial Aid
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at College of the Atlantic, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
According to the most recent data, 73 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $38,959.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 283 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. 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 283. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $552,386, and state $71,130. The students of College of the Atlantic received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $9,246,077, and external in the amount of $145,707.
$12,844
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements 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.
15 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this school in 2025. 2 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $835,883. 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 $11,053 USD.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at College of the Atlantic was 10:1: that means 10 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. This school has recently reported to have 59 faculty members. This number included 32 male and 26 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 info about social life at College of the Atlantic.
Its campus is 35 acres in size.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
The student organization that is most favored by students is Water Polo Club, followed by American Sign Language Club and Outing Club. Other popular organizations among the students at College of the Atlantic are Anime Club and Coffee House Club.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available.
Student Services
At College of the Atlantic, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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 and a job bank. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has 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 48,915 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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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for College of the Atlantic is 70%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for College of the Atlantic is 85%.
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.
