2026 Best Marine Engineering Schools
Looking for the best Marine Engineering programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 17 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 17 Marine Engineering Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Massachusetts Maritime Academy tops our 2026 ranking of the best Marine Engineering programs schools in the United States. This public school is set in Buzzards Bay, MA. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, with out-of-state students paying around $23,722. Typical Marine Engineering student debt is $27,000. Read more about Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Out of the 17 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Maine Maritime Academy landed the #2 spot. Maine Maritime Academy is a public school based in Castine, ME. Maine Maritime Academy graduates 59% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy Marine Engineering students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Get the full Maine Maritime Academy report
The strong Marine Engineering programs at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Ann Arbor, MI, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete their Marine Engineering program here. More on University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
The strong Marine Engineering programs at Drexel University earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Philadelphia, PA, Drexel University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,412. Students borrow a median of $28,838 to complete their Marine Engineering program here. See the full Drexel University profile
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #5 on this year's Marine Engineering ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Blacksburg, VA. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. The median Marine Engineering program debt is $23,393. Get the full Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Set in College Station, TX, Texas A And M University College Station is a public institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,995, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Typical Marine Engineering student debt is $22,243. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Webb Institute came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Webb Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Glen Cove, NY. Webb Institute graduates 88% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $63,214 in tuition and fees. Read the full report on Webb Institute
Suny Maritime College did well this year, earning the #8 position. Set in Throggs Neck, NY, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Suny Maritime College posts a six-year graduation rate of 66%. Students from in state pay about $8,589 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,159. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Marine Engineering program here. Read the full report on Suny Maritime College
University Of New Orleans did well this year, earning the #9 position. This public school is set in New Orleans, LA. About 38% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,172, with out-of-state students paying around $14,008. University Of New Orleans Marine Engineering students take on a median of $23,048 in debt. More on University Of New Orleans
Old Dominion University did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Old Dominion University report
Florida Atlantic University placed #11 among Marine Engineering schools in the United States. Read more about Florida Atlantic University
United States Naval Academy came in at #12 in this year's ranking. See the full United States Naval Academy profile
United States Merchant Marine Academy placed #13 among Marine Engineering schools in the United States. Read the full report on United States Merchant Marine Academy
George Mason University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Engineering schools. Read more about George Mason University
The Landing School landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. More on The Landing School
United States Coast Guard Academy came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Get the full United States Coast Guard Academy report
Stevens Institute Of Technology came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Get the full Stevens Institute Of Technology report
Best Marine Engineering Schools by Degree Level
See the best schools at each degree level:
- Best Marine Engineering Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Engineering Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 17 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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