College of the Atlantic vs Bard College

College of the Atlantic and Bard College, two esteemed institutions of higher learning, offer distinct educational experiences. College of the Atlantic, nestled in Bar Harbor, Maine, boasts a remarkably low acceptance rate of 28%, indicating its selectivity. Bard College, situated in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, is slightly less selective, with an acceptance rate of 35%. Both institutions prioritize environmental studies, with College of the Atlantic exclusively offering undergraduate programs in human ecology and Bard College providing a range of majors, including environmental studies, environmental policy, and sustainability studies. While College of the Atlantic's student body is predominantly White, Bard College's student body is more diverse, reflecting a wider range of ethnicities and backgrounds. College of the Atlantic's graduation rate stands at 75%, while Bard College's is slightly higher at 80%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Bard College logo

Bard College

College of the Atlantic logo

College of the Atlantic

Overview

Location Annandale-On-Hudson, New York Bar Harbor, Maine
Campus setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Trimester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 87.0% 81.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 59.9% 61.1%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $65
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 5,167 525
Total number of admissions given out 3,096 321
Admitted students who chose to enroll 473 93
Yield rate 15.3% 29.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,868 $50,442
Average net price $24,318 $19,142
Tuition $57,498 $42,993
Room & board $16,760
Room/dormitory: $6,210

Meal plan: $3,537
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

79.0%
Average amount $50,598
98.0%
Average amount $34,744
Students receiving federal student loan 49.0%
Average amount $5,101
64.0%
Average amount $4,759
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $16,225
6.0%
Average amount $16,806

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,171
Men 44.4% Women 55.6%
374
Men 29.7% Women 70.3%
Graduate students 420
Men 40.2% Women 59.8%
2
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Very Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 14.7% 23.1%
Campus local/setting Town: Fringe Town: Remote
Dormitory capacity 1,400 235
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Liberal Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Business
  • Education
  • Natural Resources and Conservation
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 70.6% 66.7%
Dropout rate 9.9% 32.1%
Transferred out 18.3% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,261
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
English Language and Literature/Letters, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,624
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Biological and Physical Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,818
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Social Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,172
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,518
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,944
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,353
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,051
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,916
  • Year 2: $16,920
  • Year 3: $24,486

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