Explore Our Campus | College of the Atlantic in Maine

Our Campus

Rooted in place. Open to possibility

College of the Atlantic isn’t a typical college and our campus reflects that. Nestled between pine forest and saltwater, with cottage porches and garden paths, our 38-acre campus is small by design, wild in spirit, and deeply connected to the land and sea that surround us.

This is a place where learning and living are intertwined, and where the campus itself becomes part of the educational experience.

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The ocean is always close

You’ll smell the tide before your first class

The Atlantic isn’t just our backdrop—it’s part of our campus. Wherever you stand, the shoreline is only steps away. Students learn to track the tides, observe wildlife, and experience the rhythms of coastal life firsthand.

The sea is more than scenery here. It’s a classroom. A teacher. A reminder of something vast and alive.

A campus that feels like community

Built for conversation, collaboration, and connection

With just 350 students, our small size shapes everything—from class discussions to shared meals. In the dining hall (TAB), it’s not unusual to find students, professors, and staff seated together in lively conversation. Our classrooms are set up for small group learning, with class sizes typically between 10–20.

This is a place where everyone knows your name—and cares what you have to say.

Interactive Campus Map

Spaces that reflect our values

Warm, natural, and never institutional

COA’s buildings are a blend of historic cottages and modern, sustainable architecture. You’ll see cedar shingles, wide porches, solar panels, and mass-timber—but you won’t find cold concrete or sterile lecture halls.

You might spot a weathered bench near the woods. A kayak rack by the boathouse. Tucked-away gardens with hand-painted signs. Rugged stone walls, heritage trees, and people who stop to say hello.

Our campus doesn’t just house learning, it inspires it.

Explore campus

See it for yourself—from anywhere

Whether you’re planning a visit or just curious, our interactive campus map gives you a closer look at the spaces that make up COA—from academic buildings and arts studios to oceanfront trails and student gardens.

Quick link: Visit the interactive campus map

Stories from the Field

Bayo Akomolafe to deliver keynote address at COA’s 53rd Commencement

Posthumanist philosopher and poetic cultural theorist Dr. Bayo Akomolafe will present the keynote address at College of the Atlantic’s 53rd Commencement on Saturday, June 6, at 2 p.m. The event is open to members of the COA community, friends, family, and supporters. A widely celebrated international speaker, poet, teacher, self-styled… Read More