Best institutions to study Marine Transportation
Compare 24 U.S. colleges offering Marine Transportation by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 15 states.
Marine Transportation programs report a median of $82,725 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 49.03 and the Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels occupation (BLS SOC).
About Marine Transportation programs
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 the management of marine vessels, preparing them for various roles in the maritime industry.
Students in the Marine Transportation program acquire essential skills such as monitoring, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers navigation, public safety, mechanical knowledge, and geography, equipping students to operate vessels safely and efficiently.
Top 9 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy Vallejo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,464 | 64 | 60% | — | $26,945 |
| 2 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,444 | 51 | 84% | — | $25,000 |
| 3 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,281 | 35 | 25% | — | $26,542 |
| 4 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,187 | 51 | 74% | — | $24,686 |
| 5 | Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,725 | 66 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 6 | SUNY Maritime College Throggs Neck, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,797 | 103 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 7 | United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,847 | 88 | 82% | — | — |
| 8 | Divers Institute of Technology Seattle, WA Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $38,699 | 224 | 91% | $41,660 | $9,500 |
| 9 | Ocean Corporation Houston, TX Private for-profit · Certificate degree | $30,992 | 127 | 92% | $32,464 | $9,500 |
Offered across 15 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 3 | $87,464 | Cal Poly Maritime Academy |
| Texas | 4 | $87,444 | Texas A&M University - College Station |
| Michiganlimited | 1 | $87,281 | Northwestern Michigan College |
| Massachusettslimited | 1 | $84,187 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy |
| Mainelimited | 2 | $82,725 | Maine Maritime Academy |
| New Yorklimited | 2 | $79,797 | SUNY Maritime College |
| Washingtonlimited | 2 | $38,699 | Divers Institute of Technology |
| Alaskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Floridalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Kentuckylimited | 1 | — | — |
| Louisianalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Oregonlimited | 1 | — | — |
| Tennesseelimited | 1 | — | — |
| Marshall Islandslimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arizonalimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 53-5021, Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Marine Transportation program can pursue careers in various specializations, including commercial fishing and marine science. The job outlook indicates little or no change, with an annual opening of approximately 4,300 positions and a median wage of $85,540, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Marine Transportation
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 49.03.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 49.03 (Marine Transportation) maps to 4 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 49-9092 | Commercial Divers |
| 53-5021 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselsprimary |
| 53-5022 | Motorboat Operators |
| 53-5031 | Ship Engineers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Marine Transportation programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
Concentrations within Marine Transportation
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Commercial FishingCIP 49.0303
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as commercial fishermen, fishing operations supervisors or in related fishing industry operations
- Diver, Professional and InstructorCIP 49.0304
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as professional deep-water or scuba divers, diving instructors, or diving support personnel
- Marine Science/Merchant Marine OfficerCIP 49.0309
A program that prepares individuals to serve as captains, executive officers, engineers and ranking mates on commercially licensed inland, coastal and ocean-going vessels
- Marine Transportation, OtherCIP 49.0399
Any instructional program in water transportation not listed above.
Common questions
What is Marine Transportation?+
Marine Transportation involves the transport of passengers and cargo via waterways.
What skills will I learn?+
You'll learn skills such as monitoring, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue?+
You can pursue various roles, including in commercial fishing and marine science.
What is the job outlook?+
The job outlook shows little or no change, with about 4,300 annual openings.
How much do Marine Transportation graduates earn?+
Marine Transportation graduates report median earnings of $82,725 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels occupation pays about $103,720 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Marine Transportation?+
Marine Transportation maps to CIP 49.03 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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.
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