The College also has boats that are used for marine-related courses. Approximately 73 percent of the College's students receive some form of financial aid. The Free Application for Federal Student aid ad the College's own form are required by the College to determine a student's eligibility for assistance. Aid is based on established need and academic merit. Financial aid packages generally consist of a combination of scholarships, work-study awards, and loans.
Courses offered by regular visiting faculty members supplement the curriculum.
The primary commitment of the COA faculty is teaching and advising undergraduate students. The College governance system is a combination of pure and representative democracy. Students participate in all facets of decision making and serve on all standing committees. All major policy decision are brought for review to the All-College Meeting, where members of the faculty, staff, and student body each have one vote. The Admission Committee composed of students, staff, and faculty members, seeks students who have an enthusiastic and active approach to learning, a strong record of academic achievement, and accompanying intellectual strengths.