Head-to-head comparison
Maine College of Art & Design vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
Option A Portland, ME
Maine College of Art & Design
- Net price / year
- $38,338
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,778
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bar Harbor, ME
College of the Atlantic
- Net price / year
- $25,184
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,264
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but College of the Atlantic comes closer — median earnings $40,264 against a $100,736 total, vs $40,778 at Maine College of Art & Design. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Maine College of Art & Design | College of the Atlantic |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $38,338 | $25,184 |
| Total net cost | $153,352 | $100,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,778 | $40,264 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,050 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$304,992 | -$262,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Maine College of Art & Design or College of the Atlantic?
College of the Atlantic, at $25,184 a year after aid versus $38,338 — a gap of $13,154 a year, or $52,616 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Maine College of Art & Design or College of the Atlantic graduates earn more?
Maine College of Art & Design graduates report a median $40,778 ten years after entry, $514 more than the $40,264 at College of the Atlantic. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Maine College of Art & Design or College of the Atlantic?
College of the Atlantic: its completers carry a median $25,050 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Maine College of Art & Design, a difference of $1,950. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at College of the Atlantic, against 52% at Maine College of Art & Design. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.