College of the Atlantic vs. Amherst

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME with Amherst College in Amherst, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Amherst College is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (1,914 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Amherst College is in Amherst, MA (Town Fringe setting).
• College of the Atlantic is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Amherst College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Atlantic 9:1; Amherst College 6:1.

College of the Atlantic vs. Amherst Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or Amherst? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than College of the Atlantic ($19,049 vs. $21,829).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 43.4% lower than at Amherst College ($10,404 vs. $18,390).
• Amherst College is 46.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Atlantic (about $22,483 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.8% higher at Amherst than at College of the Atlantic (about $22,483 more per year; $70,480.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Atlantic than at Amherst College (100% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 88.2% larger than aid received by College of the Atlantic students ($68,591 vs. $36,437).

College of the Atlantic vs. Amherst Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Atlantic or Amherst? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Amherst and College of the Atlantic.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Amherst College (1540) is 200 points higher than at College of the Atlantic (1340).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Atlantic 1240/1430; Amherst College 1490/1580.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAmherst College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Atlantic - Test optional; Amherst - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027; Amherst Jan 2, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Amherst students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at College of the Atlantic (3.69).
• College of the Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than Amherst (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.4% at College of the Atlantic vs. 38.8% at Amherst.

College of the Atlantic vs. Amherst Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Atlantic and Amherst? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Amherst College's six-year graduation rate (96%) is higher than College of the Atlantic's (71%).
• Graduates from Amherst College earn a median of about $53,800 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,000 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Amherst College graduates have a $6,775 lower median loan debt than College of the Atlantic graduates ($12,975 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, Amherst graduates have an estimated $70 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Atlantic graduates ($134 vs. $204).
• More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.