College of the Atlantic

Gaining admission to College of the Atlantic is moderately accessible, with an overall acceptance rate of 70.2% in 2025. This admit rate is higher than 53% of its 30 peer private liberal arts colleges, reflecting a relatively open admissions threshold compared to similar schools. Once admitted, students demonstrate a solid interest in attending: the yield rate reached 23.4%, which is higher than 93% of institutions in that peer comparison group. In national standings, the college placed 132nd in the 2027 U.S. News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, marking a downward trend from its 82nd position in 2020. For prospective applicants, these metrics indicate an accessible pathway to entry alongside a dedicated contingent of enrolling students.

College of the Atlantic enrolls incoming students with strong academic preparation, recording standardized test scores that sit well above most comparable institutions. In 2025, the college reported a median SAT score of 1370, which was higher than 88 percent of peer schools among similarly ranked private liberal arts colleges. Standardized testing represents a minority pathway during review, with 21 percent of freshmen submitting SAT results. Secondary school classroom performance remains a central benchmark for admissions decisions. During the 2022–2023 academic cycle, 25.0 percent of incoming students held a perfect high school grade point average, while the vast majority earned marks solidly in the A range. For prospective applicants who choose to submit testing, these figures indicate that competitive standing typically requires secondary school marks near the head of the class alongside scores that match or exceed the institutional median.

Academics at College of the Atlantic are completely focused on a single multidisciplinary degree path. In 2025, all 87 bachelor's degree recipients and all 3 master's degree recipients graduated under the major of Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies. Because 100% of undergraduate degrees are awarded within this single field, degree conferrals are entirely concentrated rather than spread across conventional academic departments. There are no published national rankings for individual majors at the college. International students made up 25.3% of the 87 bachelor's graduates in 2025, while the master's cohort had no international graduates. In terms of compensation, 2023 earnings data show that graduates in Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies earned a median annual salary of $23,378 one year after completing their studies. For prospective applicants, this structure means academic life is dedicated entirely to broad, interdisciplinary studies rather than specialized vocational or professional programs, requiring students to be comfortable with a self-directed liberal arts framework.

College of the Atlantic maintains an intimate, undergraduate-focused student community characterized by a notable proportion of overseas students alongside minimal Asian representation. In 2025, the entering freshman cohort included 17 international students, who accounted for 21.8 percent of first-year undergraduates. By contrast, Asian student representation remained very small, comprising 1 student, or 1.3 percent of the entering class. This demographic balance extends across the wider student body, where returning undergraduates similarly maintain an international presence of over one-fifth of the class, while Asian enrollment remains limited to a few individuals. Female students make up the clear majority across every division, and white students constitute the predominant racial group on campus. For prospective applicants considering the college, these enrollment figures point to an academic setting with a measurable overseas student presence, even as Asian and other domestic minority populations remain very small in headcount.

The undergraduate community at College of the Atlantic is composed primarily of students in their early twenties rather than entering teenagers. In 2025, 43.5% of the 359 undergraduates were between the ages of 22 and 24, while another 40.1% were aged 20 to 21. Younger students aged 18 to 19 formed a much smaller group on campus. In addition, the graduate division remains minimal with 5 students enrolled. This distribution indicates that campus life revolves around mature undergraduates completing upper-level coursework and degree requirements.

International students make up a prominent segment of the student body at College of the Atlantic, and undergraduate representation has expanded over time. In 2025, undergraduate international enrollment reached 76 students, accounting for 21.5% of the undergraduate population. In peer comparisons, this undergraduate international share is higher than 97% of its 30 peer private liberal arts colleges. At the graduate level, enrollment is minimal, comprising just one international student who represented 20% of the five-person cohort. Among graduating undergraduates in 2025, international students earned 22 degrees, representing roughly a quarter of all bachelor's recipients. All international graduates completed degrees in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, mirroring the institution's interdisciplinary focus.

Applicants exploring College of the Atlantic can evaluate several other institutions across Maine. Located approximately 41 kilometers away, the University of Maine is a large public research institution ranked 262 among National Universities in the 2027 rankings. Those seeking private liberal arts colleges will find Colby College, located 72 kilometers away and ranked 22 among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Further south, Bowdoin College is situated 93 kilometers from the campus and holds the number 3 rank among National Liberal Arts Colleges. Additionally, Bates College is 100 kilometers away, holding the 26th position in the same national liberal arts ranking. These institutions offer varied alternatives within the state.

Campus crime reports at College of the Atlantic indicate relatively low overall incident frequencies alongside a modest per-capita rate. In 2025, the college registered a crime rate per 1,000 students of 12.3. Across the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, reports centered predominantly on interpersonal misconduct, led by 10 incidents of sexual harassment. The remaining safety reports over those years included three cases of stalking, two incidents of domestic violence, two thefts, two alcohol-related disciplinary referrals, and one rape. Families evaluating campus life can see that serious offenses remain limited in absolute number on this compact coastal campus.