Head-to-head comparison
Unity Environmental University vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
Option A New Gloucester, ME
Unity Environmental University
- Net price / year
- $19,104
- Earnings, 10 years
- $37,852
- 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 $37,852 at Unity Environmental University. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Unity Environmental University | College of the Atlantic |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $19,104 | $25,184 |
| Total net cost | $76,416 | $100,736 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $37,852 | $40,264 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $25,050 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$286,576 | -$262,656 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Unity Environmental University or College of the Atlantic?
Unity Environmental University, at $19,104 a year after aid versus $25,184 — a gap of $6,080 a year, or $24,320 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 Unity Environmental University or College of the Atlantic graduates earn more?
College of the Atlantic graduates report a median $40,264 ten years after entry, $2,412 more than the $37,852 at Unity Environmental University. 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, Unity Environmental University or College of the Atlantic?
Unity Environmental University: its completers carry a median $25,000 in federal loans versus $25,050 at College of the Atlantic, a difference of $50. 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 29% at Unity Environmental University. 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.