California · Marine Transportation

Best institutions to study Marine Transportation in California

The Marine Transportation program focuses on the transportation of people and goods via waterways, an essential aspect of global trade and travel. This program is designed for individuals interested in maritime operations, navigation, and…

Institutions
3
offering CIP 49.03
States offered
15
with a program page
Degrees / yr
94
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median grad earnings
$87,464
1 year after graduation
With earnings data
1
College Scorecard
Median net price
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
47%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
$129,580
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings

Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard).

#InstitutionGrad earnings (1 yr)CompletionsGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1Cal Poly Maritime Academy
Vallejo Public · Bachelor's degree
$87,4646460%$26,945

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (SOC 53-5021).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+0.5%
Little or no change
Openings / yr (US)
~4,300
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$85,540
typically Postsecondary nondegree award

Top skills

MonitoringSpeakingCritical ThinkingActive ListeningReading ComprehensionActive Learning

What Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earn in California

Jobs in California
2,420
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$129,580
median $110,090
Best-paying metro
$144,120
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

Related careers

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
$129,580 avg · 2,420 jobs
Ship Engineers
$117,530 avg · 610 jobs
Commercial Divers
$98,740 avg · 310 jobs
Motorboat Operators
$53,260 avg · 190 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Marine Transportation programs in California.

Which Marine Transportation program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (College Scorecard), Cal Poly Maritime Academy tops the list at $87,464. Compare it against completions, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.

How much do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earn in California?+

The average annual wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in California is $129,580 (median $110,090), across about 2,420 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

What is the focus of the Marine Transportation program?+

The Marine Transportation program focuses on the transportation of people and goods via waterways, an essential aspect of global trade and travel. This program is designed for individuals interested in maritime operations, navigation, and…

What skills will I develop in this program?+

You will develop monitoring, speaking, critical thinking, active listening, and related professional skills.

What is the job outlook for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?+

The national job outlook is about +0.5% growth with around 4,300 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).

What is the typical education requirement?+

A Postsecondary nondegree award is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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