Maine College of Art & Design vs College of the Atlantic: which has better ROI?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.