College of the Atlantic vs. BC

Comparable Facts

Compare College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME with Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Boston College is larger than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (15,432 students vs. 358 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Boston College is in Chestnut Hill, MA (Small City setting).
• College of the Atlantic is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Boston College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of the Atlantic 9:1; Boston College 10:1.

College of the Atlantic vs. BC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or BC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of the Atlantic than BC ($21,829 vs. $32,519).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 45% lower than at Boston College ($10,404 vs. $18,916).
• Boston College is 47.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of the Atlantic (about $22,705 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at BC than at College of the Atlantic (about $22,705 more per year; $70,702.00 vs. $47,997.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of the Atlantic than at Boston College (100% vs. 40%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Boston College students is 56.4% larger than aid received by College of the Atlantic students ($56,971 vs. $36,437).

College of the Atlantic vs. BC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, College of the Atlantic or BC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between BC and College of the Atlantic.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Boston College (1490) is 150 points higher than at College of the Atlantic (1340).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of the Atlantic 1240/1430; Boston College 1440/1540.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsBoston College 33/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: College of the Atlantic - Test optional; BC - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: College of the Atlantic Feb 1, 2027; BC Jan 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman BC students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at College of the Atlantic (3.69).
• College of the Atlantic has a higher acceptance rate (70.2%) than BC (16.4%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.4% at College of the Atlantic vs. 43.5% at BC.

College of the Atlantic vs. BC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for College of the Atlantic and BC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Boston College's six-year graduation rate (91%) is higher than College of the Atlantic's (71%).
• Graduates from Boston College earn a median of about $62,700 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,900 vs. $28,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Boston College graduates have a $750 lower median loan debt than College of the Atlantic graduates ($19,000 vs. $19,750).
• Among borrowers, BC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of the Atlantic graduates ($196 vs. $204).
• More BC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of the Atlantic students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 75%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.