by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 24 U.S. colleges awarded 1,088 degrees and certificates in Marine Transportation. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Transportation Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing, rising to $78,025 after four years.
Do you love the thought of a career traveling on the open sea? A major in Marine Transportation will give you the technical knowledge and skill to work directly with ocean vessels. This program is ideal for anyone who wants to become a commercial fisherman, deep-water or scuba diver, ship captain, or any other ship worker.
Students may able to choose a concentration in a specific subject. Some of the options are Commercial Fishing, Diving Professional and Instructor, and Marine Science. You will take classes in your chosen specialization as well as courses in maritime traditions and law, shipboard power system engineering, crew supervision, catch identification, safety procedures, decompression systems, and diving safety procedures. This major is typically offered as a Bachelors degree, however can differ depending on which institution you attend.
A major in Marine Transportation explores Marine Transportation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., marine transportation draws strong interest, with 1,088 degrees awarded annually. 24 colleges award marine transportation degrees, an average of 45 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 224.
By level, the 1,088 awards include 289 certificates, 39 associate degrees, 453 bachelor’s degrees and 307 master’s degrees.
Women earned 11% of marine transportation degrees and certificates in the latest year (122 of 1,088). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (731) and Hispanic or Latino (131), and international students earned 13.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Transportation Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks marine transportation schools within 6 states. In all, 24 colleges offer marine transportation programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Marine Transportation Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common marine transportation credential is the bachelor’s degree: 453 of the 1,088 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to marine transportation call most for Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring and Speaking, and for knowledge of Transportation, Public Safety and Security and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Control Precision, Problem Sensitivity and Oral Expression.
In order to be successful in a Marine Transportation major and future career, you need to develop certain abilities. Students should be physically strong and be prepared to work long hours in adverse weather conditions. You must also have sharp vision and hearing.
Problem-solving and decision-making skills are critical due to the uncertainty of the ocean. You might have to make quick decisions in stressful situations. Students should not be afraid of taking advanced science and math courses. You will also be encouraged to obtain internships in order to gain experience in this field.
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How long a marine transportation degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 289 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 39 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 453 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 307 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to marine transportation, at 40.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 40.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 20.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.7% |
| Some college courses | 6.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.2% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
4 occupations are related to Marine Transportation, with an average median salary of $53,544; the strongest outlook belongs to Commercial Divers, at 13.6% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Speedboat Driver, River Pilot, Harbor Pilot and Boat Operator.
Careers in this field involve a life sea and can be very adventurous and exciting. Students who focused in commercial fishing have the option of becoming a fisher and related fishing worker, or a fishing operations supervisor. In this position you will catch and trap various kinds of sea life in order to sell for human food, animal food, bait, or other uses.
Those who concentrated in Diving have the opportunity to become a professional deep-water or scuba diver, diving instructor, or diving support personnel. Diving instructors educate people on the techniques and safety involved in scuba diving.
Finally, if you concentrated in Marine Science, you can expect a career as a captain, executive officer, engineers and ranking mates, or coastal and ocean-going vessels. Water transportation workers operate and maintain the ships that are commercial and business.
The occupation related to marine transportation with the most projected jobs is Motorboat Operators, at 1,512,311.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | 1,512,311 | 3.1% |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 1,041,739 | -0.1% |
| Ship Engineers | 946,411 | -3.5% |
| Commercial Divers | 402,389 | 13.6% |
Marine Transportation graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing their program, $78,025 after four years and $66,829 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,096 |
| 4 years | $78,025 |
| 5 years | $66,829 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to marine transportation, with a median salary of $67,056.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | $67,056 |
| Ship Engineers | $67,019 |
| Commercial Divers | $52,232 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $27,869 |
Marine Transportation includes 3 concentrations that together award 1,088 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Diver, Professional and Instructor (504), Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer (501) and Marine Transportation, Other (83). It has 3 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 31,516 degrees a year; the largest are Ground Transportation (19,489), Air Transportation (12,000) and Transportation and Materials Moving, Other (27). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Diver, Professional and Instructor | 504 |
| Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer | 501 |
| Marine Transportation, Other | 83 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ground Transportation | 19,489 |
| Air Transportation | 12,000 |
| Transportation and Materials Moving, Other | 27 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
