College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Marine Transportation Degree Guide

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.

Marine Transportation Degrees Decreasing

#283 Most Popular Major
1.2k Degrees Awarded
-7.1% Increase in Graduates

Marine Transportation was the 283rd most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 1,203 degrees in this year alone. This 85 less than the prior year, a decrease of 7.1%.

Our 2023 Best Marine Transportation Schools ranking analyzes 6 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for marine transportation students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of marine transport programs later in this article.

2023 Best Colleges for Marine Transportation
2023 Overall Best Marine Transportation Colleges >

Best Marine Transportation Schools by Degree

Associate Degrees in Marine Transportation
Bachelor's Degrees in Marine Transportation

Requirements for Getting a Degree in Marine Transportation

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.

Prior Education for a Marine Transport Program

marine transportation degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. In addition to these basic marine transportation program qualifications, to serve in some marine transport careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.

Marine Transportation Degree Types

Marine Transport degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in marine transportation to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a marine transport degree varies depending on the program.

Degree Credit Requirements Typical Program Length
Associate Degree 60-70 credits 2 years
Bachelor’s Degree 120 credits 4 years
Master’s Degree 50-70 credits 1-3 years
Doctorate Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation At least 4 years

A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to marine transport, with approximately 6.4% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for marine transport workers below.

Level of Education Percentage of Workers
Post-Secondary Certificate 43.8%
High School Diploma 34.9%
Some College Courses 7.2%
Bachelor’s Degree 5.9%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) 4.5%

See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in marine transportation have received.

undefined

The education level required is different depending on the marine transport career you are seeking.

Career Opportunities for Marine Transport Majors

Below Average Number of Jobs
$55.6k Average Starting Salary
9% Growth Job Outlook 2016-26

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.

Solid Growth Projected for Marine Transport Careers

Want a job when you graduate with your marine transport degree? Marine Transportation careers are expected to grow 8.5% between 2016 and 2026.

The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marine transportation.

Occupation Name Projected Jobs Expected Growth
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels 42,200 8.8%
Ship Engineers 10,800 6.9%
Commercial Divers 4,500 9.8%

How Much Money Do People With a Marine Transport Degree Make?

Recently graduated marine transportation students earned an average of $55,600 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $30,770 to as high as $90,576. As you might expect, salaries for marine transport graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.

undefined

High Paying Careers for Marine Transport Majors

Salaries for marine transportation graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers marine transport grads often go into.

Occupation Name Median Average Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels $82,380
Ship Engineers $75,710
Commercial Divers $59,470

Getting Your Marine Transportation Degree

With over 39 different marine transport degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased marine transport school rankings to help you with this.

Marine Transportation is one of 3 different types of Transportation & Materials Moving programs to choose from.

Marine Transport Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Diver, Professional & Instructor 734
Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer 412
Other Marine Transportation 57

View All Marine Transport Focus Areas >

Majors Similar to Marine Transport

Related Major Annual Graduates
Ground Transportation 17,893
Air Transportation 9,984
Other Transportation & Materials Moving 4

View All Marine Transport Related Majors >

References

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options