Our Campus
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.
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.
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
Endowment and innovation keep Bar Harbor college viable, new interim leader says
Lynn Boulger, who will serve as the College of the Atlantic’s interim president, comments to Bangor Daily News about how COA’s healthy endowment and innovative programs insulate the school from a wave of closures of small liberal arts colleges. Read More
From rare visitors to regular sightings, the bears in Acadia National Park
College of the Atlantic students and faculty will collaborate with the National Park Service and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries on a multi-year study of the bear population in Acadia National Park, The Bangor Daily News reports via Bar Harbor Story. Read More
COA students spin and knit for cancer support in global wool challenge
The College of the Atlantic Spinsters make history as the first collegiate team to compete in the international Back to Back Wool Challenge. Read MoreReady to build your own path?
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