College of the Atlantic
About
Located on the scenic coast of Bar Harbor, Maine, adjacent to Acadia National Park, the College of the Atlantic (COA) is internationally renowned for its pioneering focus on environmental sustainability and its singular, self-designed major in Human Ecology. Within this highly customizable interdisciplinary degree, students collaborate with faculty to build tailored pathways, taking advantage of premier, hands-on programs in marine science, sustainable food systems, and environmental law. The campus culture is deeply collaborative, progressive, and outdoorsy, offering a tight-knit community of around 350 students who utilize the rugged Maine coastline and the college's two offshore research islands as living laboratories. Distinctively, COA was the first carbon-neutral college in the United States and operates without traditional academic departments or standard letter grades, utilizing narrative evaluations instead to foster genuine intellectual curiosity over competition.
Wikipedia:College of the Atlantic (COA) is a private liberal arts college in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine. Founded in 1969, it awards two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree solely in the field of human ecology, using an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Focus areas include arts and design, environmental sciences, humanities, international studies, sustainable food systems, teacher certification and educational studies, and socially responsible business. The College of the Atlantic is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.
Location
Cost & aid
Outcomes
Admissions
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Essay prompts
If College of the Atlantic asks for supplemental essays, the prompts are in the Common App.
The personal essay is separate: see the Common App essay prompts.
Student Body
Varsity sports
No data. This school isn't in the U.S. Department of Education's athletics (EADA) file, so we can't list its teams. That doesn't mean it has none.
Programs & Earnings
Institutional
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