Marine Transportation is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best marine transportation schools.
The marine transportation program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Marine Transportation rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Marine Transportation Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Best Schools for Marine Transportation in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the marine transportation degrees they offer, see the list below.
Suny Maritime College is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in marine transportation. Located in the city of Throggs Neck, Suny Maritime College is a small public university. About 66% of students finish within six years. About 103 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Suny Maritime College in the most recent year. Graduates of the marine transportation program make about $79,797 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete this degree.
See the full marine transportation program report for Suny Maritime College
Texas A And M University College Station is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in marine transportation, ranking #2. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 51 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $87,444 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,000.
More information about a degree in marine transportation from Texas A And M University College Station
A rank of #3 makes University Of Alaska Southeast one of the top schools for marine transportation. Located in the rural area of Juneau, University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 marine transportation degrees were awarded at University Of Alaska Southeast in the most recent year. Graduates of the marine transportation program make about $63,014 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,458.
Read more about the marine transportation program at University Of Alaska Southeast
Students looking for a strong marine transportation program will find one at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a small public institution. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 marine transportation students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marine transportation program make about $84,187 in their early career. Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates carry a median of $24,686 in student loans.
More information about a degree in marine transportation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Students looking for a strong marine transportation program will find one at California Maritime Academy, which ranked #5. California Maritime Academy is a small public school located in the city of Vallejo. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. California Maritime Academy awarded about 64 marine transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from California Maritime Academy generally make around $87,464. Typical student debt for the program is $26,945.
Read more about the marine transportation program at California Maritime Academy
Seattle Community College Central Campus came in at #6 for marine transportation this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. About 12 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Seattle Community College Central Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from Seattle Community College Central Campus earn around $53,048 in the first couple years of their career. Seattle Community College Central Campus graduates carry a median of $14,699 in student loans.
See the full marine transportation program report for Seattle Community College Central Campus
United States Merchant Marine Academy ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best marine transportation schools. United States Merchant Marine Academy is a small public school located in the suburb of Kings Point. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. United States Merchant Marine Academy awarded about 88 marine transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from United States Merchant Marine Academy generally make around $69,847.
See the full marine transportation program report for United States Merchant Marine Academy
Orange Coast College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best marine transportation schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Costa Mesa. Orange Coast College awarded about 16 marine transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from Orange Coast College earn around $46,306 in the first couple years of their career. Orange Coast College graduates carry a median of $8,978 in student loans.
More information about a degree in marine transportation from Orange Coast College
Northwestern Michigan College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best marine transportation schools. Northwestern Michigan College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Traverse City. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 35 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Northwestern Michigan College in the most recent year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from Northwestern Michigan College earn around $87,281 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,542.
Read more about the marine transportation program at Northwestern Michigan College
San Jacinto Community College landed the #10 spot for marine transportation this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pasadena. San Jacinto Community College awarded about 29 marine transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from San Jacinto Community College earn around $38,107 in the first couple years of their career. San Jacinto Community College graduates carry a median of $11,376 in student loans.
Get the full marine transportation details for San Jacinto Community College
Santa Barbara City College placed #11 among the best marine transportation schools. Located in the city of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College is a large public university. There were roughly 14 marine transportation students who graduated with this degree at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marine transportation program make about $68,184 in their early career. Santa Barbara City College graduates carry a median of $21,090 in student loans.
Get the full marine transportation details for Santa Barbara City College
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best marine transportation schools. This small public university is located in the rural area of Castine. Maine Maritime Academy graduates 59% of students within six years. Maine Maritime Academy awarded about 66 marine transportation degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from Maine Maritime Academy generally make around $82,725. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in marine transportation from Maine Maritime Academy
Lamar State College Orange landed the #13 spot for marine transportation this year. Located in the town of Orange, Lamar State College Orange is a mid-sized public university. There were roughly 14 marine transportation students who graduated with this degree at Lamar State College Orange in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marine transportation program make about $45,299 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $18,506 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in marine transportation from Lamar State College Orange
South Louisiana Community College placed #14 among the best marine transportation schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Lafayette. There were roughly 10 marine transportation students who graduated with this degree at South Louisiana Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marine transportation degree recipients from South Louisiana Community College generally make around $38,854. Typical student debt for the program is $12,435.
Get the full marine transportation details for South Louisiana Community College
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #15 for marine transportation this year. Based in Majuro, MH, College Of The Marshall Islands is a public institution. There were roughly 15 marine transportation students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Marshall Islands in the most recent data year.
Get the full marine transportation details for College Of The Marshall Islands
Divers Institute Of Technology landed the #16 spot for marine transportation this year. Located in the city of Seattle, Divers Institute Of Technology is a small private for-profit university. About 224 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Divers Institute Of Technology in the most recent year. Marine Transportation graduates of Divers Institute Of Technology earn a median of $38,699 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $9,500.
See the full marine transportation program report for Divers Institute Of Technology
Ocean Corporation placed #17 among the best marine transportation schools. This small private for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. About 127 marine transportation degrees were awarded at Ocean Corporation in the most recent year. Students who receive their marine transportation degree from Ocean Corporation earn around $30,992 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full marine transportation details for Ocean Corporation
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 17 schools evaluated.
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).
