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Colleges / College of the Atlantic

College of the Atlantic

Bar Harbor, ME 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate60%

College of the Atlantic Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at College of the Atlantic was $45,630 a year.

Tuition increased 3.05% in 2023–from $44,280 the prior year. Usually, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't necessarily what you will have to pay to attend a school. Many students pay far less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make theactual cost of attending college more manageable until you've finishing school and found a job.

College of the Atlantic meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates. The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student at College of the Atlantic is around $43,865 a year.

Students in the class of 2023 who had taken out student loans graduated with an average of $28,140 of debt.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at College of the Atlantic

College of the Atlantic is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Maine as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can drastically reduce the cost of tuition, as well as loans and interest owed. Be sure to confirm your state's criteria for in-state tuition. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on the state you and your parents currently live in.

Explore other Maine colleges

College of the Atlantic International Student Tuition

Tuition at College of the Atlantic is the same for every student.

International students usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or school-specific grants, scholarships, and other funding opportunities. International students who demonstrate financial need may qualify for the following types of financial support at College of the Atlantic:

•On-campus jobs •College of the Atlantic-specific scholarships

International students without financial need may be eligible for merit-based institutional scholarships.


College of the Atlantic Housing Expenses, Fees, and More


In addition to the cost of tuition, there are other costs associated with college, like room and board, facility fees, and books and supplies. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at College of the Atlantic.

Room and Board Costs at College of the Atlantic

Room and board at College of the Atlantic costs $10,101 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, and a meal plan that enables you to eat in the College of the Atlantic's on-campus cafeterias and dining facilities. Students who do not live on-campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can pay for a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $6,210.

Board costs may vary depending on the number of meals you intend to eat on-campus

Cost of Books at College of the Atlantic

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The real cost of books depends on the courses you take and what kinds of books and materials they require. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Yearly Fees

Most schools also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be other costs associated with participating in certain activities, like joining a fraternity or sorority, or participating in sports or other extracurriculars. Many schools have ways so that those with demonstrated need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Transportation costs

The total cost of transportation in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus easy to get around on foot? Do you plan to bring a car or will you need to use public transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in a city is usually pricey, but there may be more trains, busses or affordable flights to actually get to school. College of the Atlanticis located in a town in Maine.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, be sure to consider the cost of things like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


Financial Breakdown for College of the Atlantic


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better estimate of what is really costs to go to College of the Atlantic.

Total Cost of College of the Atlantic

What will the cost of attending College of the Atlantic be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2023 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $45,630
Room and Board $10,101
Board Only $3,660
Other expenses $1,370

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $57,650
Off-Campus $50,625

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.

College of the Atlantic’s tuition and fees change based on: •Course load for both full and part-time students


Financial Aid at College of the Atlantic


The majority of College of the Atlantic undergrads use financial aid to help pay for school. In 2023, 287 of the 377 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. College of the Atlantic meets 96% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $43,865 a year. Around 48% of College of the Atlantic undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. College of the Atlantic graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $28,140 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $21,234
Private Loans $36,835
Most Common Loans for College of the Atlantic Students
Federal Loans 48%
Private loans 9%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on College of the Atlantic financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at College of the Atlantic

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2023, College of the Atlantic awarded 287 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $100.8 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.12 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of College of the Atlantic

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for College of the Atlantic students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at College of the Atlantic was $43,865 in 2023. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of College of the Atlantic seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $13,785
Off-Campus $6,760

What will attending College of the Atlantic really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the College of the Atlantic's net cost calculator on their website.

College of the Atlantic Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

College of the Atlantic does not have guaranteed tuition.

College of the Atlantic offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Does College of the Atlantic Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some colleges offer tuition waivers for employees and their family members, underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

College of the Atlantic has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.

College of the Atlantic's Endowment

An endowment is the total value of a school's investments, donations, and assets. Endowment is not necessarily an indicator of the quality of a school, but it can give you a sense of how much money a college can afford to invest in expanding programs, improving facilities, and supporting students.

As of 2022, the total market value of College of the Atlantic's endowment was $67.8 million. The average college endowment was $905 million in 2021. For each full-time student, College of the Atlantic spends about $18,084 a year.


Learn More About College of the Atlantic


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about College of the Atlantic:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Connect with other students, parents, and admissions professionals to learn more about about College of the Atlantic in the College Confidential forums

College of the Atlantic Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$56,280

In State

$56,280

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$45,630
$45,630
Fees
$549
$549
Housing
$10,101
$10,101
Books
Unknown
Unknown

College of the Atlantic Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

80%

Average Financial Aid Package

$42,306

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

380

Campus Setting

Small Town

Acceptance Rate

60%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$46,179

Out-of-State

$46,179

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Feb 1
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