The State of Maine, and College of the Atlantic, are located on the traditional lands of the Wabanaki people.

As part of our institutional land recognition effort, we provide a tuition waiver for any enrolled COA student who is a Maine Tribal member or a direct descendant of Maine Tribal members. We will also meet additional demonstrated financial need without loans for Wabanaki students, using the college’s regular institutional financial aid methodology.

In order to be eligible, students must apply and be admitted to College of the Atlantic using the college’s undergraduate admission processes (or visiting/special student processes) and follow the additional steps outlined below. 

Eligibility

Maine Tribal member: A Maine resident whose name is included on the current Tribal census of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseets, or the Mi’kmaq Nation. 

Direct descendant of Maine Tribal member: A Maine resident with at least one biological parent or grandparent who is an enrolled Tribal member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseets, or the Mi’kmaq Nation.

Required steps for new applicants

  1. Submit your admission application to College of the Atlantic. Please note that race/ethnicity and Tribal status are not considered as part of the admission process. 
  2. Submit the COA Wabanaki Tuition Waiver application form by the financial aid application deadline. 
  3. Submit required Tribal membership documentation, as outlined below. 
  4. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), COA financial aid application, and all required financial aid documentation to the financial aid office. Please refer to the financial aid application instructions.
  5. Students must re-apply for financial aid each year by the indicated deadlines. 

Required documentation

Documents may be submitted over email to financialaid@coa.edu or by mail to: Financial Aid Office, College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. 

Maine Tribal members must provide:

  • An original document, less than two years old, submitted to COA directly from a Wabanaki-recognized Tribal office, stating that you have enrollment on the Tribal census. 

Direct descendants of Maine Tribal members must provide: 

  • An original document, less than two years old, submitted to COA directly from a Wabanaki-recognized Tribal office, stating that a parent or a grandparent is an enrolled member of that Tribe, or has enrollment on the Tribal census.
  • Original birth certificate(s) documenting Wabanaki descendancy. 

Additional information

  • As part of this program, tuition for regular credit-bearing courses is waived. This waiver does not apply to room, board, or other fees. 
  • Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to maintain their tuition waiver and financial aid eligibility. 
  • Students receiving the tuition waiver are not eligible for COA merit/programmatic scholarships,  as the waiver is offered in place of other scholarships that offset the cost of tuition; however, need-based institutional scholarship/grants may be awarded after applicable federal, state, and other outside scholarships/grants have been applied toward meeting the student’s financial need. 
  • The official cost of attendance (including applicable room, board, and other fees) is used to calculate the student’s additional financial need and financial aid. Students participating in this program will have all demonstrated financial need met without loans. 
  • Total funds received by the student from all sources including the waiver may not exceed the total cost of attendance. In the event of an over-award, the tuition waiver may be reduced.