2026 Best Value Marine Transportation Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Transportation programs programs in the United States? This list ranks 27 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat San Jacinto Community College this year in the United States. San Jacinto Community College is a public school based in Pasadena, TX. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $11,376. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Northwestern Michigan College landed the #2 spot. Located in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $26,542. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $38,167. That is a strong return on a $26,542 median debt. Read more about Northwestern Michigan College
California Maritime Academy came in at #3 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Vallejo, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,559, with out-of-state students paying around $22,159. Graduates carry a median of $26,945 in student loans. California Maritime Academy alumni report median earnings of $94,784 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,945 median debt. California Maritime Academy admits about 95% of applicants. Read the full report on California Maritime Academy
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Massachusetts Maritime Academy landed the #4 spot. Located in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,420, while out-of-state students pay about $23,722. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $24,686. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,392. Set against $24,686 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted. Read the full report on Massachusetts Maritime Academy
A rank of #5 makes Suny Maritime College one of the best values in the United States. Set in Throggs Neck, NY, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,589, with out-of-state students paying around $19,159. Suny Maritime College Marine Transportation students take on a median of $25,000 in debt. Suny Maritime College alumni report median earnings of $95,951 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%. Read more about Suny Maritime College
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Based in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,158 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Median earnings reach $89,964 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Maine Maritime Academy admits about 54% of applicants. More on Maine Maritime Academy
Divers Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #7 position. Based in Seattle, WA, Divers Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit institution. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $9,500. Median earnings reach $62,489 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $9,500 median debt. More on Divers Institute Of Technology
Florida Keys Community College landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Florida Keys Community College
Irvine Valley College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Irvine Valley College
Santa Barbara City College came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. See the full Santa Barbara City College profile
Seattle Community College Central Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full Seattle Community College Central Campus report
Clatsop Community College landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Clatsop Community College
Ocean Corporation placed #13 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on Ocean Corporation
Saddleback College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Saddleback College report
The Landing School landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on The Landing School
College Of The Marshall Islands placed #16 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of The Marshall Islands
Commercial Divers International came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on Commercial Divers International
University Of Alaska Southeast ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full University Of Alaska Southeast report
Northshore Technical Community College came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northshore Technical Community College profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald
Alpena Community College landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Alpena Community College
United States Merchant Marine Academy came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full United States Merchant Marine Academy profile
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Read more about West Kentucky Community And Technical College
South Louisiana Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full South Louisiana Community College report
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Lamar State College Orange landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Lamar State College Orange
Orange Coast College landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Orange Coast College
Best Value Marine Transportation Schools by Degree Level
Explore value rankings for a specific degree level:
- Best Value Marine Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider 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 · 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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