College of the Atlantic
Begin with a question
Follow it to the edge of the map
Design an education shaped by tide, weather, wonder, and the work that matters.
At College of the Atlantic, curiosity leads and community grounds you. The living world is not a backdrop—it’s where learning happens. In any given term, you might pull water samples from Frenchman Bay, track forest health in Acadia National Park, or sketch keel-billed toucans in the Yucatán.
Learning that meets the moment
Let questions lead
Work in the world around you
Find your place in community
Build a career that matters
Student voices
COA Might be Right for You if…
…you are ready to have your life and identity flipped on its head and dunked in the ocean repeatedly.
Jonna Lynn Nielsen ’27
…you don’t know what you want to study because you have far too many interests to just focus in on one of them.
Wilson Korneev ’28
…you want to be in a small community where people will remember your name.
Alya Kiiashko ’25
…you have an open mind, enjoy small communities, and want a well-rounded (however unconventional) education experience.
Seth Sears ’28
…you want to meet politically, emotionally, and academically engaged people.
Alder Ame ’27
…you think being sent to the oceanside to improve your mental health actually sounds awesome (it totally is).
Carolina de Oliveira Castro ’26
…you are passionate about the natural world and want to study it and love spending time outside.
Conrad Kortemeier ’26
…you want to be surrounded and inspired by people who are excited about niche subjects, and by people who are still figuring out what they’re doing.
Marina Schnell ’25
…you can’t choose between the mountains and the sea.
Megan Maloney ’26
…you want freedom in your class structure.
Andie Piliouras ’26
…you want small, intentional community.
Conlan Lamb ’28
…you want to expand your perspective and knowledge of the world around you, and gain valuable connections from all around the world!
Trinket Lester ’28
…you question the answers to your questions, challenge the status quo, and seek tranquility in the heart of the spruce-fir forests.
Greta Bernier ’27
…you have the desire to choose your own path to a degree.
Béatrice St-Louis ’28
Human Ecology
Many paths, one shared framework
Human ecology is built around the questions only you can ask
Your COA education is as layered and interconnected as the world itself. Human ecology is both a framework and a practice—one that integrates science, policy, art, and action. It challenges you to pursue your interests with depth and discipline, preparing you for meaningful work in a complex world.
Academics
Your Classroom is everywhere
Learning doesn’t stop at the door
We learn in classrooms, shared kitchens, labs, studios, and conversations that spill into the world. A question in a seminar sparks new insight. A scientific observation reshapes a piece of art. A remark about energy or ethics reframes everything you thought you knew. Courses are interdisciplinary by design, and independent studies, field research, and senior projects demand sustained focus, intellectual rigor, and real contribution.
Student Life
Live closely. Show up for each other
A tight-knit, deeply inclusive community
Life at COA is intimate, collaborative, and full of motion. You share meals, responsibilities, ideas, and projects. You take part in governance and help shape the college. You find people who see the whole of who you are and who support the person you are becoming.
Build a career that matters
Where purpose becomes a life’s work
From grassroots nonprofits to global organizations, COA graduates lead and contribute across science, art, education, public service, and beyond. They pursue advanced study, launch ventures, and build careers rooted in conviction. The COA experience equips you to turn curiosity into expertise and learning into lasting work.
Ranked #1 LGBTQ+
friendly college
According to the Princeton Review
60%
Go on to grad school
100% Complete internships
350
Student body
83% receive need-based financial aid
#1 most economically diverse college in northern New England
Student-faculty ratio
10:1
Ranked #1
Green College
According to the Princeton Review
In the News
Nepal’s request for flood payout tests UN’s new climate-aid system
College of the Atlantic Professor Doreen Stabinsky tells The Economic Times that international climate aid must respond quickly when vulnerable nations face catastrophic losses. Read MorePrinceton Review places COA among nation’s best for student experience
The Review’s 2027 Best 392 Colleges ranks College of the Atlantic near the top for sustainability, LGBTQ+ friendliness, outdoor engagement, campus food, and quality of life. Read MoreBoard of Trustees welcomes two new members
Art historian and gallery owner Jill Lord, PhD and senior defense and technology executive Richard Ross join the College of the Atlantic Board of Trustees. Read Moreevents
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Strengthening community: Forging connections through art
College of the Atlantic faculty and students help lead an afternoon of…
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Fall Open House
Our Fall Open House is a signature in-person event designed to give…
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Family weekend
Visit together, get out on the ocean, explore campus, check out Acadia…