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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 Admissions

College of the Atlantic is very difficult to get into. The acceptance rate at College of the Atlantic is 60%. Out of 486 applications received in 2023, 292 students were offered admission.

If you are applying to College of the Atlantic, the regular decision application deadline is February 1 and there is no application fee, which means it is free to apply.

Students who submit their applications to College of the Atlantic for fall should receive an admissions decision no later than April 1.

College of the Atlantic Admissions Stats at a Glance

Here is an overiew of some of College of the Atlantic's admissions stats.

College of the Atlantic 2023 Admissions Statistics
Mean Unweighted GPA 3.8
Admitted Students in Top 10% of Graduating Class 24%
Mean SAT Score 1338
Admissions Test Policy Test Optional
Applicants Who Submit SATs 23%
Applicants Who Submit ACTs 10%
Waitlist Yes

College of the Atlantic Application Deadlines

These are the application deadlines for College of the Atlantic.

Application Type Offered Application Deadline Notification Deadline
Early Decision I Yes December 1 December 15
Early Decision II Yes January 15 January 30
Early Action No – –
Regular Decision Yes 2 1 April 1

Considering Applying Early to College of the Atlantic?


College of the Atlantic offers early decision but not early action. Early decision is binding, meaning you must attend if you are admitted, while early action allows you to apply early without committing.

πŸ—“οΈ Early Decision I applications are due by December 1 EDI applicants should receive a decision by December 15.

πŸ—“οΈ Early Decision II applications are due January 15. ED II Applicants will recieve their decision before January 30.

The early decision acceptance rate at College of the Atlantic is 77%, compared to an overall acceptance rate of 60%. Last year, College of the Atlantic admitted 41 of the 53 students who applied early decision.

Some students apply early to college in hopes that it will increase their chances of acceptance. When you apply early, your application is considered before all the regular decision applicants apply. Applying early may increase the chance of acceptance, since it demonstrates your interest in a school.

➑️ Explore a list of some selective colleges that accept significantly more applicants during early decision or early action than during regular admission.


More on College of the Atlantic Admissions


Transferring to College of the Atlantic

Transfer student admissions is very difficult.

For Students Waitlisted to College of the Atlantic

In 2022, College of the Atlantic waitlisted 47 students and 10 accepted a place on the waitlist. Of those, 1 eventually got off the waitlist.

What's Most Important for Getting Into College of the Atlantic?

Colleges consider a range of factors when choosing who to admit for their next incoming class. Each college decides which factors are they consider most important when choose which applicants to admit, and which to deny. When assembling your list of schools to apply to, you may want to consider your strengths and any possible weaknesses in your application, and apply to colleges that prioritize the admissions factors where you stand out.

Admissions Factors at College of the Atlantic

Curious about the factors that are considered by College of the Atlantic during the admissions process? Take a look at the list below to see which factors are most important during the admissions process.

Admissions Factor Level
Application Essay Very Important
Recommendation(s) Very Important
Rigor of Secondary School Record Very Important
Character/Personal Qualities Important
Extracurricular Activities Important
Interview Important
Volunteer Work Important
Work Experience Important
Academic GPA Important
Alumni/ae Relations Considered
Class Rank Considered
Racial/Ethnic Status Considered
Standardized Test Scores Considered
Talent/Ability Considered
Level of Applicant's Interest Considered
First Generation Considered

Make sure to check with College of the Atlantic for more information on admission factors.

College of the Atlantic Application Requirements

To apply to College of the Atlantic, all applicants must submit the following items. Make sure to check in with College of the Atlantic's admissions department to confirm all application materials and requirements.

Area Required Recommended Required for Some Details (If Any)
Minimum High School GPA (On 4.0 Scale) – 3 – –
Interview – √ – –
Letter(s) of Recommendation 3 – – –
Written Essay or Personal Statement √ – – –
Transcript of High School Record √ – – –

GPA and Testing


What GPA Do I Need To Get Into College of the Atlantic?

Students admitted to College of the Atlantic have an average unweighted GPA of 3.8.

Out of all students that were admitted, 22% submitted a class rank. At College of the Atlantic 24% of students ranked in the top 10% of their graduating class in high school, 71% were in the top 25% and 100% were in the top 50%.

GPAs of Admitted Students

At College of the Atlantic, student GPAs fall in the following ranges.

GPA Percent of Students
4.0 GPA 15%
3.75 and 3.99 34%
3.50 and 3.74 32%
3.25 and 3.49 9%
3.00 and 3.24 8%
2.50 and 2.9 2%
2.00 and 2.49 –

This chart depicts the percentage of all enrolled, degree-seeking, first-time, first year (freshmen) students who had high school grade point average within the given ranges.

Note: Some schools choose not release this information. If you have any questions regarding missing numbers, be sure to reach out to College of the Atlantic directly.

About GPAs

Your high school grade point average (GPA) is a number that highlights your high school academic performance. A weighted GPA or an unweighted GPA are the two possible GPA scores considered by colleges.

An unweighted GPA is an average of your scores from each class on a four-point scale. Unweighted GPAs range from 4.0 to under 1.0. A weighted GPA considers your average grade and the difficulty of your classes. A weighted GPA boosts your average by adding extra points for honors or Advanced Placement courses.

Standardized Test Scores

College of the Atlantic is test optional. Test optional schools allow students to choose if they want to submit ACT or SAT scores with their applications or not.

In 2022, 23% of College of the Atlantic's first-year students submitted their SAT scores with their application. 10% of admitted applicants sent ACT scores.

What is a Good SAT Score for College of the Atlantic?

To be competitive with other College of the Atlantic applicants, you should aim to earn between 1240 and 1450 (or higher!) on the SAT. At College of the Atlantic 25% of admitted students scored higher than 1450 and 25% of scored lower than 1240, but the majority of students scored somewhere in between these two numbers.The mean composite SAT score for a College of the Atlantic student is 1338.

On the SAT Math Section, 25% of College of the Atlantic students scored 710 or higher and 75% of students scored 640 or higher. On the SAT Critical Reading section (formerly called the Verbal section), 25% of College of the Atlantic students scored 750 or higher, and 75% scored a 640 or higher.

To be most competitive at College of the Atlantic, you should strive to earn between 27 and 32 on the ACT.

An ACT score of 32 means you fall in the 75th percentile for College of the Atlantic's admitted students. One out of every four students scored above a 32, and three out of four students scored lower than 32 on the ACT.

A 27 on the ACT is the 25th percentile for College of the Atlantic students. Only one out of every four students scored below 27.

More Information on Transferring to College of the Atlantic

For transfer students, it is very difficult to get admitted to College of the Atlantic.

For transfer students wishing to start in the fall, the deadline to apply is March 15. Applicants should hear back by April 15.

Transfer students can enroll in College of the Atlantic during the following terms:

β€’ Fall Term

β€’ Winter Term

β€’ Spring Term

β€’ Winter Term

β€’ Summer Term


College of the Atlantic Admissions FAQs


Can I defer my acceptance to College of the Atlantic?

βœ… Yes, admitted students can defer their admission to College of the Atlantic.

Does College of the Atlantic accept transfer credits?

βœ… College of the Atlantic accepts eligible transfer credits from accredited institutions. College of the Atlantic accepts:

β€’ CLEP subject tests β€’ DSST/DANTES

Does College of the Atlantic accept Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credits?

βœ… College of the Atlantic accepts International Baccalaureate credits (IB) credits.

Do I have to submit test scores to College of the Atlantic?

❌ No, College of the Atlantic is test optional, so it's up to you if you want to submit test scores or not. If your scores are higher than the school's average, you may want to send them. If your scores are average or below average, you it might make sense to leave them out of your application.

What is College of the Atlantic's acceptance rate?

βœ… The acceptance rate for College of the Atlantic is 60%.

What is the early decision acceptance rate at College of the Atlantic?

βœ… College of the Atlantic's early decision acceptance rate was 77% in 2021.

Want To Learn More About College of the Atlantic?

Click below to find out more about the admissions requirements and deadlines, student life, academics, majors and more.

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Tuition & Aid

Join the conversation about about College of the Atlantic in the College Confidential forums

Explore other colleges in Maine or use the college admissions predictor to calculate your chances of getting into some of the top colleges and universities in the U.S.

College of the Atlantic Admissions Requirements

Admission Difficulty

Very Selective

60%

How hard is it to get into College of the Atlantic? College of the Atlantic is a very selective institution. The College of the Atlantic acceptance rate is 60%. This means that the institution accepts 60 out of every 100 applicants.

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College of the Atlantic Application Deadline

First-Year Applications are Due

Feb 1

Transfer Applications are Due

Mar 15

The deadline for Fall first-year applications to College of the Atlantic is Feb 1.

The deadline for Fall transfer applications to College of the Atlantic is Mar 15.

Check the school website for more information about deadlines for specific programs or special admissions programs

College of the Atlantic SAT Scores

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Composite SAT Range

1240 - 1450

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Math SAT Range

590 - 710

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Reading SAT Range

640 - 750

Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

SAT Score

Estimated Chance

1450 and Above

Good

1240 to 1450

Avg

1240 and Less

Low

SAT Scores Needed to Get Accepted

The median SAT score for College of the Atlantic students is 1338. Applicants with SAT scores of 1450 and above have a good chance of being admitted to College of the Atlantic, while applicants with SAT scores between 1240 to 1450 have an average chance of admittance, and prospective students with an SAT score below 1240 have a low chance of being offered a spot at College of the Atlantic.

College of the Atlantic GPA

Avg. High School GPA (non-weighted)

3.8

GPA Needed to Get Accepted

At College of the Atlantic, the average unweighted high-school GPA for admitted students is 3.8. This is the average, which means that some applicants submit GPAs lower than this and some applicants submit GPAs above this level. If your GPA falls below the average, strong test scores or other qualifications may help you make you a more competitive applicant.

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases Β© 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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