College of the Atlantic > About COA > Outside Perspectives

Princeton Review
COA was recognized in Princeton Review's annual Best 366 Colleges, and earlier, in their America's BestValue Colleges.

Not only are we one of the nation's top schools, says Princeton Review, we're also generous and a great value.

Turrets, a classroom and administration building housed in an old granite mansion, seen from COA's Thorndike Library

Equally as important, in addition to our recognition for our good financial aid packages (#10 in the nation), COA is noted for encouraging discussions (#12 in the nation), accessible professors (#12 in the nation) , acceptance of the gay community (#5 in the nation) and our delicious food (#17 in the nation - most of which is from local growers, including our own Beech Hill Farm). In the interest of full disclosure, we're also listed as #6 for dodgeball targets and "nobody plays intramural sports."

Only about 15 percent of the four-year colleges in the United States and two Canadian colleges were chosen for the book, which offers two-page profiles of the schools and student survey-based ranking lists of top 20 colleges in more than 60 categories.

Oh, and both Princeton Review and the online magazine Campus Squeeze placed COA on the top-twenty list of most beautiful campuses (campussqueeze.com/static/20-Most-Beautiful-Colleges.html).

US News & World Reports
As in the past, COA has been recognized as being among the top five schools in the nation for small classes and an international student body, according to US News & World Reports' 2008 edition of "America's Best Colleges."


						COA's Newlin Gardens outside of Gates Center, in full summer bloom.

With 94 percent of its classes under twenty students, COA ranks fifth in the nation for small classes. Currently, 16 percent of our students hail from outside the United States, making COA third in the nation for a global presence on campus, according to US News & Word Reports. Many of these students come to the college as part of the Davis United World College Scholars program, funded by Shelby and Gale Davis. The program grants full college scholarships to outstanding international students at selected US colleges, COA among them. The diversity of background, nationality and culture in the student body create a vibrant dynamic of multiple perspectives, skills, insights and styles on campus.

CosmoGirl
This September, CosmoGirl ranked COA in their list of the top 100 colleges and universities.