Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1372 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $32,352, placing College of the Atlantic in the 0.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1282 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1372 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Bar Harbor, Maine, College of the Atlantic enrolls roughly 353 undergraduates. Retention is 85.0% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.3%, reflecting strong persistence and completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts institution. College of the Atlantic performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1282 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $32,352, demonstrating solid long-term financial outcomes for a liberal arts college. The institution's program portfolio centers on Liberal Arts, a field of study that supports both intellectual development and meaningful career pathways. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. College of the Atlantic enrolls 28.1% Pell-eligible undergraduates, placing the institution in the 9.3 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability ranks in the 25.9 percentile, reflecting the tuition structure typical of private residential colleges. Mobility outcomes sit in the 50.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For prospective students seeking a small, residential liberal arts experience with strong graduate outcomes, College of the Atlantic offers a distinctive educational model grounded in direct faculty engagement and hands-on learning.
College of the Atlantic's published cost of attendance is $58,266. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,415, middle-income families pay around $16,650, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,684. Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1056 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. College of the Atlantic's aid structure is need-based, with institutional aid meeting a significant portion of demonstrated financial need for admitted students. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The net-price figures above reflect how aid typically closes the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the specific gap varies by income level and individual circumstances. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,050. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $32,352, median federal debt of $25,050 projects to a monthly payment of about $283 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and detailed affordability planning, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
College of the Atlantic is a strong fit for students drawn to the liberal arts and interdisciplinary fields who want a small, private college experience in Bar Harbor, ME. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $32,352, placing College of the Atlantic in the 0.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible students — 28.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — and delivers completion rates that support upward mobility. Published cost of attendance is $34,684, and families pay a net price that reflects College of the Atlantic's commitment to need-based aid. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 70.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors interdisciplinary liberal arts over applied-professional fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a distinctive academic environment in ME. ---
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the College Of The Atlantic hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Earlham College Similar quality tier (#36109 ranked) | IN | 73% | $50,797 | #36109 | Compare |
William Peace University Similar quality tier (#36114 ranked) | NC | 94% | $46,643 | #36114 | Compare |
Crown College Similar quality tier (#36115 ranked) | MN | 23% | $48,057 | #36115 | Compare |
Metropolitan College Of New York Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36118 ranked) | NY | 90% | $46,236 | #36118 | Compare |
Edp University Of Puerto Rico-Caguas Similar quality tier (#36119 ranked) | PR | 73% | $22,844 | #36119 | Compare |
College of the Atlantic offers a distinctive program portfolio centered on Liberal Arts education, where students design individualized curricula rather than following traditional major tracks. This structure means that program-level earnings data reflects outcomes across a diverse set of student-directed combinations rather than discrete, conventionally named majors.
General Studies represents the largest area of student focus, with 89 graduates, and the institution serves roughly 89 students annually across 1 distinct program pathways. The earnings landscape at College of the Atlantic reflects the outcomes of its liberal arts model.
Graduates pursue careers across education, environmental science, social services, creative fields, and nonprofit work — sectors where four-year earnings tend to be moderate but where career satisfaction and mission alignment often matter as much as salary. This pattern is typical for institutions organized around self-designed curricula and interdisciplinary study rather than pre-packaged professional tracks.
The institution's strength lies in consistent outcomes across a broad range of student interests rather than in concentrated high-earning programs; this reflects both the student population's career priorities and the structure of the liberal arts educational model. For students considering College of the Atlantic, the value proposition centers on educational autonomy, close faculty mentorship, and preparation for careers in fields where purpose and impact are primary drivers.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how liberal arts graduates align with labor-market demand across sectors like education, environmental work, and nonprofit leadership.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
College of the Atlantic's published cost of attendance is $58,266. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $20,415, middle-income families pay around $16,650, and higher-income families pay approximately $34,684.
Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1056 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
College of the Atlantic's aid structure is need-based, with institutional aid meeting a significant portion of demonstrated financial need for admitted students. The college participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The net-price figures above reflect how aid typically closes the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay, though the specific gap varies by income level and individual circumstances.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,050. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $32,352, median federal debt of $25,050 projects to a monthly payment of about $283 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios and detailed affordability planning, use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of College of the Atlantic earn median 4-year earnings of $32,352, placing the institution in the 0.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks College of the Atlantic #1282 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings profile reflects a liberal arts institution where outcomes depend substantially on individual major choice and post-graduation career trajectory rather than a concentrated set of high-earning fields. College of the Atlantic's program portfolio spans humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and interdisciplinary studies.
General Studies represents the largest aggregate return by combining meaningful enrollment with solid earnings outcomes. Graduates pursue diverse career paths — some entering graduate school, others moving into nonprofit and public service roles, and others into private-sector positions — which creates wider variation in early-career earnings than institutions with dominant STEM or business concentrations.
The liberal arts model emphasizes breadth and critical thinking over narrow vocational training, a signature that shapes both the earnings distribution and the longer-term career mobility of College of the Atlantic alumni.
