by our College Data Analytics Team
[Marine Transportation](/majors/transportation-materials-handling/marine-transportation/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for marine transportation students.
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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
BS in Operations Management - Logistics & Transportation
Enhance your Bachelor of Science in Operations Management with a concentration in Logistics and Transportation at Southern New Hampshire University.
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in marine transportation, balancing cost against outcomes.
Orange Coast College earned the #1 spot for value among marine transportation schools in the Far Western Region. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Orange Coast College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,392, with out-of-state students paying around $11,640. Typical student debt for marine transportation graduates is $8,978. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $46,306. That is a strong return on a $8,978 median debt.
Seattle Community College Central Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine transportation, landing the #2 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. Students borrow a median of $14,699 to complete the marine transportation program here. Marine Transportation graduates of Seattle Community College Central Campus earn a median of $53,048 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,699 median debt.
University Of Alaska Southeast came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value marine transportation schools. Set in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Marine Transportation graduates carry a median of $20,458 in student loans. Early-career marine transportation graduates make about $63,014. That is a strong return on a $20,458 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
California Maritime Academy is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine transportation, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Vallejo, California Maritime Academy is a small public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,559 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,159. 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. That is a strong return on a $26,945 median debt. California Maritime Academy admits about 95% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Divers Institute Of Technology one of the best values for marine transportation. Set in the city of Seattle, Divers Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete the marine transportation program here. 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.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
