2026 Best Value Marine Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Transportation associate’s degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 27 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor evaluated 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 Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat San Jacinto Community College this year in the United States. Based in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $11,376. Median earnings reach $43,062 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Get the full San Jacinto Community College report
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #2 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Set in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $27,000. Maine Maritime Academy alumni report median earnings of $89,964 a decade after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maine Maritime Academy admits about 54% of applicants. Read more about Maine Maritime Academy
Lamar State College Orange came in at #3 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Get the full Lamar State College Orange report
You'll get strong value at Irvine Valley College, which ranked #4 this year. Read more about Irvine Valley College
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Commercial Divers International landed the #5 spot. Read the full report on Commercial Divers International
University Of Alaska Southeast landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Alaska Southeast
Northwestern Michigan College placed #7 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on Northwestern Michigan College
Seattle Community College Central Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. See the full Seattle Community College Central Campus profile
California Maritime Academy ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about California Maritime Academy
Santa Barbara City College offered strong value this year, earning the #10 position. More on Santa Barbara City College
Clatsop Community College landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Clatsop Community College
The Landing School offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. See the full The Landing School profile
Orange Coast College came in at #13 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Orange Coast College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about West Kentucky Community And Technical College
United States Merchant Marine Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Read more about United States Merchant Marine Academy
Alpena Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on Alpena Community College
Ocean Corporation offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. More on Ocean Corporation
Massachusetts Maritime Academy ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full Massachusetts Maritime Academy report
College Of The Marshall Islands offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Get the full College Of The Marshall Islands report
Florida Keys Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full Florida Keys Community College report
Saddleback College placed #21 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on Saddleback College
Suny Maritime College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. Read the full report on Suny Maritime College
Divers Institute Of Technology offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full Divers Institute Of Technology profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald placed #24 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald profile
Northshore Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Northshore Technical Community College
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Texas A And M University College Station
South Louisiana Community College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on South Louisiana Community College
Related Marine Transportation Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Marine Transportation Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Marine Transportation Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Transportation Undergraduate Certificate 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
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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