College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, United States of America

College of the Atlantic (est. 1969) is a private liberal arts college located in Bar Harbor, Maine, USA. It is distinctive for offering a single academic major—Human Ecology, an interdisciplinary field that integrates arts, sciences, social sciences, and the environment into a cohesive curriculum .
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Tuition Fees, Cost of Living & Accommodation at College of the Atlantic

Cost Of Living

$ 9747

Undergraduate Fees International Students

$ 42993

Post Graduate Fees International Students

$ 24000

Bachelors

  • $ 47488
  • $ 55299
  • $ 44829
  • $ 44829
  • $ 55299
  • $ 46800
  • $ 43865
  • $ 44829

Masters

  • $ 55299
  • $ 60387
  • $ 31632

College of the Atlantic Departments

  • Biomedical Studies & Molecular Biology
  • Climate Change & Energy
  • Community Planning & Ecological Policy
  • Culture & Place
  • Educational Studies
  • Environmental Law & Politics
  • Ethnography & Documentary
  • Farming & Food Systems
  • Field Ecology & Natural History
  • Gender & Identity Studies
  • International Studies
  • Languages
  • Literature & Writing
  • Marine Science
  • Mathematics & Physical Sciences
  • Mind, Meaning, & Consciousness
  • Performance & Music
  • Sustainable Business
  • Visual Arts & Design

Distinguished Alumni of College of the Atlantic

Step-by-Step Guide to Admission Requirements at College of the Atlantic

Application Platforms: Submit through the Common Application or the College’s own application—both accepted. No application fee charged. 

Application Components:

Completed application form

At least one teacher recommendation (some sources request two) 

Official transcripts of all academic work

School report and counselor recommendation (for first-year applicants) 

Personal essay / short answer: One paragraph describing why COA would be a good fit for you 

Optionally, portfolio or creative work (writing, art, music, etc.) may be submitted via email.  

Standardized Tests: SAT/ACT are optional. COA practices a holistic review. Superscoring is allowed (i.e., highest section scores are considered across multiple test dates) 

Academics & GPA Benchmarks:

Average high school GPA of admitted students is around 3.8 

SAT composite scores typically range between 1260–1360 (25th–75th percentile) 

ACT composite scores usually fall within 28–32 (25th–75th percentile) 

Interview: Not required, but strongly encouraged. Available online via Zoom or similar platforms 

Admissions Timeline:

Early Decision: typically due November 15 (decision by mid-December)

Early Action: due December 1

Regular Decision: due February 1 (decisions by early April)

Know more

College of the Atlantic Corporate Partnership

  • University of Maine at OronoNational Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)Sea|mesterCenter for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)Additionally, students frequently take part in consortium exchanges via other independent organizations like the Sea Education Association (SEA). 

Notable Achievements of College of the Atlantic

Achievements

01.
MacArthur Genius Award

COA was chosen as one of the six universities to get a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation genius award.

Year
02.
Fulbright student awards

The U.S. Department of State's Fulbright Program provides funding for students to study overseas.

Year
03.
MacArthur Genius Award

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation named COA one of six colleges deserving of a genius grant for their creative approach to liberal arts education.

Year

Notable Innovation, Research & Development College of the Atlantic

Notable Innovation

01.
Carbon neutrality

COA made a commitment to become carbon neutral, which it accomplished in 2007.

Year
2006
02.
Zero-waste graduation

COA held the first zero-waste graduation.

Year
2005
03.
Renewable energy

COA became the first campus to commit to being powered entirely by renewable energy.

Year
2004

Explore Programs & Courses at College of the Atlantic

Program name
Tuition Fees
Deadlines
BS Biomedical Studies & Molecular Biology 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
$53,289
(Annual Fees)
15th Feb
BS Climate Change & Energy 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
$53,289
(Annual Fees)
15th Feb
BS Community Planning & Ecological Policy 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
$53,289
(Annual Fees)
15th Feb
BA Culture & Place 4 Years On Campus Bachelors Program
$53,289
(Annual Fees)
15th Feb

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