2026 Best Marine Transportation Schools
Looking for the best Marine Transportation programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 27 schools 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 evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Divers Institute Of Technology tops our 2026 ranking of the best Marine Transportation programs schools in the United States. Based in Seattle, WA, Divers Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. Get the full Divers Institute Of Technology report
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #4 on this year's Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Located in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. In-state tuition and fees average $5,860, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $26,542. Read the full report on Northwestern Michigan College
Massachusetts Maritime Academy came in at #5 on this year's Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Set in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,420, with out-of-state students paying around $23,722. Students borrow a median of $24,686 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. Read more about Massachusetts Maritime Academy
California Maritime Academy landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Vallejo, CA. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,559, with out-of-state students paying around $22,159. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $26,945. More on California Maritime Academy
San Jacinto Community College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. San Jacinto Community College is a public school based in Pasadena, TX. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $11,376. See the full San Jacinto Community College profile
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. This public school is set in Castine, ME. About 59% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy Marine Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
Suny Maritime College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Throggs Neck, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. In-state tuition and fees run about $8,589, compared with $19,159 for out-of-state students. Suny Maritime College Marine Transportation students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. See the full Suny Maritime College profile
Orange Coast College did well this year, earning the #8 position. More on Orange Coast College
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald did well this year, earning the #9 position. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald profile
Alpena Community College landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Alpena Community College
Saddleback College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Get the full Saddleback College report
Irvine Valley College placed #12 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Irvine Valley College profile
Ocean Corporation landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Ocean Corporation
College Of The Marshall Islands did well this year, earning the #14 position. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
Lamar State College Orange did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about Lamar State College Orange
Florida Keys Community College placed #16 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Florida Keys Community College
Clatsop Community College did well this year, earning the #17 position. Read the full report on Clatsop Community College
The Landing School placed #18 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full The Landing School report
Santa Barbara City College did well this year, earning the #19 position. See the full Santa Barbara City College profile
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. More on Seattle Community College Central Campus
Commercial Divers International did well this year, earning the #21 position. Read the full report on Commercial Divers International
Northshore Technical Community College placed #22 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Northshore Technical Community College
South Louisiana Community College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on South Louisiana Community College
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Get the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College report
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of Alaska Southeast landed the #26 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Alaska Southeast profile
United States Merchant Marine Academy ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. Read the full report on United States Merchant Marine Academy
Best Marine Transportation Schools by Degree Level
See the best schools at each degree level:
- Best Marine Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 27 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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