College of the Atlantic
Bar Harbor, Maine · Private Nonprofit · 70.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 25/100 · Poor Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
College of the Atlantic (Bar Harbor, ME) scores 25 (Poor Value) - among the lowest scores on this site. The data is striking: $20,500 median 6-year earnings, a 45.7-year payback period, and a 1.222 debt-to-earnings ratio. The only reported program (Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, General) earns $23,003 at year one and $31,138 at year four. COA offers a single-degree program in Human Ecology - every student graduates with a BA in Human Ecology, with self-designed concentrations in ecology, environmental studies, social sciences, or arts. The school deliberately targets students pursuing environmental and social good careers rather than high-wage outcomes. The ROI score reflects this mission accurately.
The data raises concerns about College of the Atlantic
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score25/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.22 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period45.7 years - Most 4-year schools we track have payback periods of 4-10 years.
College of the Atlantic
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $47,997/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $47,997/yr |
| Average net price | $25,184/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $100,736 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $40,264 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $20,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,050 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $266 |
| Estimated payback period | 45.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 68.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 353 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $47,997/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $25,184/year, or roughly $100,736 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $20,415/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $34,684/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,050 in federal loans, which works out to about $266 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $40,264 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 1.22, which is high - the rule of thumb is that total debt should not top your first-year salary, and this is over that line.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $20,415 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,942 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,650 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,266 |
| $110,001+ | $34,684 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $20,415 per year - roughly $82,000 over four years. Against median earnings of $20,500 at six years, this is a financially difficult position for low-income students who rely on loan repayment. COA's 81.7% repayment rate at year one and 87.9% at year seven suggest graduates do manage their debt, but the process is slow. Low-income students should carefully model expected career earnings against loan obligations before enrolling.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $30,001-48,000 bracket actually pays $13,942 - the lowest net price in the schedule - and the $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $16,650. The unusual dip at the 30001-48000 bracket may reflect a targeted aid program or small-sample data volatility. Middle-income families should use COA's price calculator directly. At any price point, the 45.7-year payback period reflects that COA graduates do not pursue high-wage careers, by design.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $34,684 per year - about $139,000 over four years. This is a large absolute commitment against $20,500 median six-year earnings. High-income families choosing COA are presumably doing so for mission-alignment and academic environment rather than financial return. The 83.1% year-one repayment rate and 87.9% year-seven rate suggest the school's graduates are financially stable despite modest earnings - possibly supported by family resources or graduate scholarships.
Earnings by Major
Top 1 most popular majors at College of the Atlantic with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General | $31,138 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General
This is the only program COA reports - all students graduate with a BA in Human Ecology under this CIP code. Year-one median earnings are $23,003 and year-four earnings are $31,138, with an F ROI grade and 1.107 debt-to-earnings ratio. Graduates entering environmental nonprofits, ecological research, marine science support roles, or graduate programs in ecology or environmental policy will be in roles that the Scorecard data accurately captures as low-wage in the near term. The 45.7-year payback period is not a meaningful financial planning number for COA students - it is a signal that this school is not chosen for financial return.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.1% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.7% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 87.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How College of the Atlantic’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 70.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 580-700 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 660-730 |
| Enrollment | 353 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 28.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $9,002 |
At 70.2% acceptance with SAT Reading mid-range of 660-730, COA is moderately selective and draws a self-selected applicant pool interested in its unusual single-degree model. The high verbal scores relative to math (580-700) suggest a humanities and social science leaning. Applicants who thrive in interdisciplinary, project-based environments with small seminar formats are the target profile; students who want professional program structure or strong career placement in business or engineering fields should look elsewhere.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
COA's peer schools include Bates College and Bowdoin College - both highly selective liberal arts colleges with far stronger earnings outcomes. COA (25, Poor Value) is not meaningfully comparable to Bates or Bowdoin on financial metrics; their inclusion as peers reflects Scorecard's geographic/type matching rather than outcome similarity. Among single-focus environmental colleges nationally, COA is distinctive. Prospective students comparing small environmental programs should look at Hampshire College, Marlboro College (now merged), and schools with environmental studies concentrations within broader liberal arts frameworks.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Atlantic (this school) | 25 | $25,184 | $40,264 |
| Bowdoin College | 92 | $14,398 | $82,735 |
| Bates College | 82 | $29,351 | $69,498 |
| Hannibal-LaGrange University | 30 | $22,814 | $42,643 |
| University of the Southwest | 27 | $16,927 | $45,389 |
| Touro University Worldwide | 24 | $19,058 | $40,803 |
Who Thrives Here
College of the Atlantic admits 70.2% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 580-700 Math and 660-730 Reading - a notably high verbal/reading range for an institution with this earnings profile, suggesting strong academic preparation among applicants who consciously choose a low-wage mission field. At 353 students and a 28.1% Pell grant rate, COA is one of the smallest accredited colleges in New England. This school fits students with a strong commitment to environmental work, ecological research, or sustainability careers who understand that near-term earnings will be modest.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
We'll be straight with you: the numbers at College of the Atlantic are a real concern. With a net cost of $25,184 per year and the typical graduate earning only $40,264 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds 45.7 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost - go in with your eyes open.
What it has going for it: its 68.3% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, high debt relative to what graduates earn, a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,050 against $40,264 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.