Best colleges for Marine Transportation
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Marine Transportation by graduate earnings are Cal Poly Maritime Academy ($87,464), Texas A&M University - College Station ($87,444) and Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($84,187), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Cal Poly Maritime Academy (Vallejo, CA): $87,464, 64 graduates a year
- Texas A&M University - College Station (College Station, TX): $87,444, 51 graduates a year
- Massachusetts Maritime Academy (Buzzards Bay, MA): $84,187, 51 graduates a year
- Maine Maritime Academy (Castine, ME): $82,725, 66 graduates a year
- SUNY Maritime College (Throggs Neck, NY): $79,797, 103 graduates a year
Compare 24 U.S. colleges offering Marine Transportation by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 15 states.
Marine Transportation programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,725 (College Scorecard, 2019), 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 7 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | 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 | Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buzzards Bay, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $84,187 | 51 | 74% | — | $24,686 |
| 4 | Maine Maritime Academy Castine, ME Public · Bachelor's degree | $82,725 | 66 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | SUNY Maritime College Throggs Neck, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $79,797 | 103 | 64% | — | $25,000 |
| 6 | United States Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $69,847 | 88 | 82% | — | — |
| 7 | Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $87,281 | 35 | 25% | — | $26,542 |
Top 2 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Divers Institute of Technology Seattle, WA Private for-profit · Certificate | $38,699 | 224 | 91% | $41,660 | $9,500 |
| 2 | Ocean Corporation Houston, TX Private for-profit · Certificate | $30,992 | 127 | 92% | $32,464 | $9,500 |
Specializations within Marine Transportation
3 of the 4 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 49.03 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- DiverCIP 49.0304partial data504 graduates / yr7 institutions7 states
- Marine Science/CIP 49.0309
Merchant Marine Officer 501 graduates / yr10 institutions8 states - Marine TransportationCIP 49.0399partial data83 graduates / yr9 institutions9 states
Show all 4 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Commercial Fishing49.0303
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
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.
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 one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $82,725, College Scorecard (2019); 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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