2026 Best Value Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Transportation bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 27 schools 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 analyzed schools to compile 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is Northwestern Michigan College, our #1 best-value Marine Transportation school in the United States. Set in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,860, with out-of-state students paying around $13,476. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $26,542. Graduates go on to earn a median of $38,167 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,542 median debt. More on Northwestern Michigan College
California Maritime Academy came in at #2 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Set in Vallejo, CA, California Maritime Academy is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,559, with out-of-state students paying around $22,159. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $26,945. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $94,784. Set against $26,945 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. California Maritime Academy has an acceptance rate of 95%. Read more about California Maritime Academy
You'll get strong value at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $24,686. Massachusetts Maritime Academy alumni report median earnings of $82,392 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,686 median debt. About 95% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Massachusetts Maritime Academy report
Suny Maritime College came in at #4 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. Based in Throggs Neck, NY, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,589 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,159. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $25,000. Median earnings reach $95,951 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 72% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on Suny Maritime College
You'll get strong value at Maine Maritime Academy, which ranked #5 this year. Based in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $89,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Maine Maritime Academy has an acceptance rate of 54%. More on Maine Maritime Academy
South Louisiana Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. See the full South Louisiana Community College profile
Alpena Community College landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Alpena Community College
Irvine Valley College came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Irvine Valley College
Clatsop Community College landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Clatsop Community College
The Landing School placed #10 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full The Landing School profile
Commercial Divers International offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. More on Commercial Divers International
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
West Kentucky Community And Technical College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College report
Saddleback College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Saddleback College
Northshore Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on Northshore Technical Community College
Orange Coast College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Orange Coast College report
Santa Barbara City College landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Santa Barbara City College
San Jacinto Community College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
College Of The Marshall Islands offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
University Of Alaska Southeast offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Get the full University Of Alaska Southeast report
Ocean Corporation placed #21 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Ocean Corporation
Florida Keys Community College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
Seattle Community College Central Campus placed #23 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full Seattle Community College Central Campus profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald landed the #24 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald report
Divers Institute Of Technology came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Divers Institute Of Technology
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
United States Merchant Marine Academy landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. More on United States Merchant Marine Academy
Lamar State College Orange came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Lamar State College Orange report
Related Marine Transportation Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at 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 Associate’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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