College of the Atlantic vs. Hillsdale College

Deciding between College of the Atlantic and Hillsdale College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of the Atlantic

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, ME
  • Hillsdale College Hillsdale, Michigan
  • Setting
  • College of the Atlantic Rural Fringe
  • Hillsdale College Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • College of the Atlantic 358
  • Hillsdale College 1,792
  • Type
  • College of the Atlantic Private 4 Year
  • Hillsdale College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • College of the Atlantic
  • Hillsdale College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • College of the Atlantic -
  • Hillsdale College Undenominational
  • Status
  • College of the Atlantic Non-profit
  • Hillsdale College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • College of the Atlantic
  • Hillsdale College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • College of the Atlantic $47,997
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • College of the Atlantic $47,997
  • Hillsdale College $33,189
  • Room & Board
  • College of the Atlantic $10,404
  • Hillsdale College $13,600
  • Average Net Price
  • College of the Atlantic $21,829
  • Hillsdale College $23,993
  • Average Grant Aid
  • College of the Atlantic $36,437
  • Hillsdale College $24,328
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • College of the Atlantic 100%
  • Hillsdale College 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • College of the Atlantic 476
  • Hillsdale College 3,181
  • Admitted
  • College of the Atlantic 334
  • Hillsdale College 659
  • Acceptance Rate
  • College of the Atlantic 70.2%
  • Hillsdale College 20.7%
  • Enrolled
  • College of the Atlantic 23.4%
  • Hillsdale College 55.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • College of the Atlantic 1340
  • Hillsdale College 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • College of the Atlantic
  • Hillsdale College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • College of the Atlantic 3.69
  • Hillsdale College 3.93
  • Typical High School Grades
  • College of the Atlantic A-
  • Hillsdale College A
  • Admissions Standards
  • College of the Atlantic Very High
  • Hillsdale College Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • College of the Atlantic Low
  • Hillsdale College Very High
  • ACT Range
  • College of the Atlantic
  • Hillsdale College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • College of the Atlantic 1240/1430
  • Hillsdale College 1320/1490
  • Submit Test Scores
  • College of the Atlantic Test optional
  • Hillsdale College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027
  • Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • College of the Atlantic 9:1
  • Hillsdale College 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • College of the Atlantic
    • General Studies (100%)
  • Hillsdale College
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • College of the Atlantic 71%
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • College of the Atlantic $28,200
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • College of the Atlantic 75%
  • Hillsdale College -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • College of the Atlantic $19,750
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • College of the Atlantic $204
  • Hillsdale College N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • College of the Atlantic 28%
  • Hillsdale College 51%
  • % Women
  • College of the Atlantic 72%
  • Hillsdale College 49%
  • Racial Diversity
  • College of the Atlantic Medium
  • Hillsdale College -
  • HBCU
  • College of the Atlantic No
  • Hillsdale College No
  • % White
  • College of the Atlantic 72%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Asian
  • College of the Atlantic 3%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Black
  • College of the Atlantic 1%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Hispanic
  • College of the Atlantic 4%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Native American
  • College of the Atlantic 0%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • College of the Atlantic 0%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • College of the Atlantic 2%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % International
  • College of the Atlantic 17%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • College of the Atlantic 1%
  • Hillsdale College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • College of the Atlantic 15%
  • Hillsdale College 19%
  • % Out-of-State
  • College of the Atlantic 63%
  • Hillsdale College 77%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • College of the Atlantic Yes
  • Hillsdale College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • College of the Atlantic Yes
  • Hillsdale College
  • Meal Plan
  • College of the Atlantic Yes
  • Hillsdale College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • College of the Atlantic No
  • Hillsdale College No
  • Daycare Facility
  • College of the Atlantic No
  • Hillsdale College
  • Learn More
  • College of the Atlantic Details
  • Hillsdale College Details

Comparable Facts

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

Hillsdale College is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (1,792 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Hillsdale College is in Hillsdale, Michigan (Distant Town setting).
  • College of the Atlantic is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hillsdale College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Atlantic 9:1; Hillsdale College 8:1.

College of the Atlantic vs. Hillsdale College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or Hillsdale College? 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 College of the Atlantic than Hillsdale College ($21,829 vs. $23,993).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 23.5% lower than at Hillsdale College ($10,404 vs. $13,600).
  • College of the Atlantic is 44.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hillsdale College (about $14,808 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $33,189.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 44.6% higher at College of the Atlantic than at Hillsdale College (about $14,808 more per year; $47,997.00 vs. $33,189.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Atlantic than at Hillsdale College (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 49.8% larger than aid received by Hillsdale College students ($36,437 vs. $24,328).

College of the Atlantic vs. Hillsdale College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Atlantic or Hillsdale College? 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 Hillsdale College and College of the Atlantic.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hillsdale College (1410) is 70 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; Hillsdale College 1320/1490.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsHillsdale College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Atlantic - Test optional; Hillsdale College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027; Hillsdale College Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Hillsdale College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at College of the Atlantic (3.69).
  • College of the Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than Hillsdale College (20.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.4% at College of the Atlantic vs. 55.5% at Hillsdale College.

College of the Atlantic vs. Hillsdale College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Atlantic and Hillsdale College? 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).

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.