Bar Harbor College Thrives as Similar Schools Close

While small colleges across America announce closures, one tiny school in Bar Harbor, Maine is proving that innovation and financial planning can beat the odds.

College of the Atlantic is standing strong as similar institutions struggle to survive. The school recently welcomed Lynn Boulger as its new interim president, and she's confident about the college's future even as Hampshire College in Massachusetts and others announce permanent shutdowns.

Boulger, who spent 13 years as the school's dean of institutional advancement, points to two key advantages. First, COA's $95 million endowment provides a financial cushion that many peer institutions lack. Second, the college's unique programs set it apart in ways that keep attracting students.

The timing matters because higher education faces unprecedented challenges right now. Small liberal arts colleges are closing at alarming rates as enrollment drops and costs rise. COA's former sister school, Hampshire College, just announced it will shut down permanently after fall 2026.

Boulger will lead the college for the next two years, replacing outgoing president Sylvia Torti who resigned in April. She inherits a school that's managed to do what many thought impossible: stay viable as a small, specialized college in an increasingly difficult market.

The Bright Side

COA's success offers a roadmap for other small colleges fighting to survive. The school didn't just rely on tradition or hope things would improve. Instead, it built a strong financial foundation and created programs distinctive enough to draw students even when other options exist.

The Bar Harbor college shows that size doesn't have to mean vulnerability. With careful stewardship and a willingness to stand out rather than blend in, small institutions can weather storms that sink their peers.

While many schools scramble to merge or downsize, COA is focused on maintaining what makes it special. That strategy is working when conventional wisdom says small liberal arts colleges are doomed.

For students seeking intimate learning environments and faculty who want to teach at smaller schools, COA's resilience brings real hope. The model proves that thoughtful leadership and financial discipline can preserve educational choices that might otherwise disappear.

Small colleges nationwide are watching Bar Harbor closely, learning that survival isn't just about enrollment numbers but about building something strong enough to last.