2026 Best Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Marine Transportation bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 27 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
No school ranked higher than Northwestern Michigan College this year in the United States. This public school is set in Traverse City, MI. Northwestern Michigan College posts a six-year graduation rate of 53%. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $26,542. Read more about Northwestern Michigan College
The strong Marine Transportation programs at Massachusetts Maritime Academy earned it the #2 place in the United States. Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public school based in Buzzards Bay, MA. Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduates 74% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,686 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. Read the full report on Massachusetts Maritime Academy
The strong Marine Transportation programs at California Maritime Academy earned it the #3 place in the United States. This public school is set in Vallejo, CA. Roughly 60% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,559, while out-of-state students pay about $22,159. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $26,945. Read the full report on California Maritime Academy
You'll be in good company at Maine Maritime Academy, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Maine Maritime Academy graduates 59% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy Marine Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Maine Maritime Academy
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Suny Maritime College landed the #5 spot. Based in Throggs Neck, NY, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 66%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,589, with out-of-state students paying around $19,159. Graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Get the full Suny Maritime College report
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald report
Santa Barbara City College landed the #7 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Santa Barbara City College report
United States Merchant Marine Academy ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. More on United States Merchant Marine Academy
Alpena Community College did well this year, earning the #9 position. Read more about Alpena Community College
Divers Institute Of Technology came in at #10 in this year's ranking. More on Divers Institute Of Technology
Saddleback College landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Saddleback College
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Seattle Community College Central Campus report
The Landing School placed #13 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on The Landing School
San Jacinto Community College placed #14 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on San Jacinto Community College
College Of The Marshall Islands did well this year, earning the #15 position. Read the full report on College Of The Marshall Islands
Ocean Corporation placed #16 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Ocean Corporation report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Read more about Texas A And M University College Station
Commercial Divers International came in at #18 in this year's ranking. See the full Commercial Divers International profile
South Louisiana Community College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read more about South Louisiana Community College
Clatsop Community College placed #20 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Clatsop Community College
Irvine Valley College did well this year, earning the #21 position. Get the full Irvine Valley College report
Orange Coast College landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. See the full Orange Coast College profile
Northshore Technical Community College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. See the full Northshore Technical Community College profile
West Kentucky Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. See the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College profile
Florida Keys Community College came in at #25 in this year's ranking. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Lamar State College Orange placed #26 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Lamar State College Orange
University Of Alaska Southeast placed #27 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on University Of Alaska Southeast
Related Marine Transportation Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Marine Transportation Schools (All Levels)
- Best Marine Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Transportation Associate’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
These rankings are produced 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 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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