College of the Atlantic to fund six scholarships for Maine residents

students and a professor looking at a chart on a boat

PROVIDED PHOTO Professor Sean Todd with students in his oceanography course aboard Osprey in Frenchman Bay.

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Six Maine students will be selected to receive full scholarships to the Bar Harbor-based College of the Atlantic for the fall 2026 semester, through the college’s new Pine Tree Scholars program.

The program is being made possible by a $775,000 gift from an anonymous donor, which the school will match to fund the scholarships.

In addition to tuition, any demonstrated financial need — including costs such as room and board — will be met in full.

To be considered, students must be Maine residents, entering college for the first time, with a minimum unweighted high school grade point average of 3.2. Applicants should also show commitment to their community through volunteer service or paid work, and explain their educational goals in their application.

“The Pine Tree Scholars program is about opening doors for Maine students,” said Heather Albert-Knopp, the school's chief operating officer. “We are grateful for the generosity that made this scholarship possible and for the opportunity to expand access to a COA education.”

College of the Atlantic also provides full-tuition waivers to enrolled members of the Wabanaki tribes as part of its broader commitment to access and equity.

Students who apply for the Pine Tree scholarship but are not selected, will still be considered for COA’s need-based financial aid program, which supports students from a range of financial backgrounds.

The deadline for fall 2026 admission is Feb. 1, 2026.

About College of the Atlantic

Founded in 1969 and located in Bar Harbor, the private liberal arts college offers an interdisciplinary and experiential education focused on human ecology.

College of the Atlantic is ranked No. 23 among Maine's largest colleges and universities in the 2026 Mainebiz Book of Lists, with 347 students.