[Marine Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/marine-transportation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value marine transportation schools.
Finding the Best Value Marine Transportation School for You
The marine transportation program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. To help, we created our Best Value Marine Transportation 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 Marine Transportation Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this 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.
Leading the list is Lamar State College Orange, our #1 best value for marine transportation in the United States. Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Orange. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,832, compared with $13,824 for out-of-state students. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $18,506 in student loans. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $45,299. Set against $18,506 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at United States Merchant Marine Academy earned it the #2 place for marine transportation. Set in the suburb of Kings Point, United States Merchant Marine Academy is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $895. Marine Transportation graduates of United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of $69,847 early in their careers. United States Merchant Marine Academy admits about 34% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northwestern Michigan College earned it the #3 place for marine transportation. Located in the city of Traverse City, Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Students borrow a median of $26,542 to complete the marine transportation program here. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $87,281. That is a strong return on a $26,542 median debt.
Seattle Community College Central Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine transportation, landing the #4 spot this year. Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,238, with out-of-state students paying around $5,796. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans. Marine Transportation graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $53,048 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in marine transportation will find it at Orange Coast College, which ranked #5. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,392, compared with $11,640 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $8,978. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $46,306. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santa Barbara City College came in at #6 for value in marine transportation this year. Santa Barbara City College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Barbara. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,240, compared with $10,432 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,090 to complete the marine transportation program here. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $68,184. That is a strong return on a $21,090 median debt.
San Jacinto Community College placed #7 among the best values for marine transportation. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the marine transportation program here. Marine Transportation graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,376 median debt.
College Of The Marshall Islands earned the #8 position for value in marine transportation this year. Located in Majuro, MH, College Of The Marshall Islands is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,840, with out-of-state students paying around $7,480.
University Of Alaska Southeast ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value marine transportation schools. Located in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $20,458. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $63,014. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 63%.
South Louisiana Community College landed the #10 spot for marine transportation value this year. Located in the city of Lafayette, South Louisiana Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,210. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $12,435. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from South Louisiana Community College generally make around $38,854. That is a strong return on a $12,435 median debt.
California Maritime Academy landed the #11 spot for marine transportation value this year. Set in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a small public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,559, compared with $22,159 for out-of-state students. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $26,945 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from California Maritime Academy generally make around $87,464. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #12 for value in marine transportation this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $87,444. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value marine transportation schools. Located in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $24,686. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $84,187. Set against $24,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Suny Maritime College came in at #14 for value in marine transportation this year. Set in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,589, compared with $19,159 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from Suny Maritime College generally make around $79,797. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny Maritime College admits about 72% of applicants.
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value marine transportation schools. Set in the rural area of Castine, Maine Maritime Academy is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the marine transportation program here. Marine Transportation graduates of Maine Maritime Academy earn a median of $82,725 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
Ocean Corporation earned the #16 position for value in marine transportation this year. Located in the city of Houston, Ocean Corporation is a small private for-profit university. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $30,992. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Divers Institute Of Technology came in at #17 for value in marine transportation this year. Divers Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $9,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from Divers Institute Of Technology generally make around $38,699. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
This list is compiled 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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).
[Marine Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/marine-transportation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
