[Maritime Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/maritime-studies/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value maritime studies schools.
Finding the Best Value Maritime Studies School for You
Where you study maritime studies affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Maritime Studies Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Maritime Studies Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
For return on investment in maritime studies, no school beat The University Of West Florida this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $5,776, with out-of-state students paying around $18,658. Maritime Studies graduates carry a median of $19,677 in student loans. Soon after graduation, maritime studies degree recipients from The University Of West Florida generally make around $47,141. That is a strong return on a $19,677 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Students looking for strong value in maritime studies will find it at Oregon State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400, while out-of-state students pay about $38,190. Students borrow a median of $24,041 to complete the maritime studies program here. Maritime Studies graduates of Oregon State University earn a median of $51,326 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Oregon State University admits about 77% of applicants.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).