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2026 Best Marine Transportation Schools
Looking for the best Marine Transportation programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 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.
So you can compare your options, Trade College analyzed 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. Divers Institute Of Technology is a private for-profit school based in Seattle, WA. Students borrow a median of $9,500 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. See the full Divers Institute Of Technology profile
The strong Marine Transportation programs at Northwestern Michigan College earned it the #4 place in the United States. This public school is set in Traverse City, MI. About 53% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,860, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. Northwestern Michigan College Marine Transportation students take on a median of $26,542 in debt. Get the full Northwestern Michigan College report
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Massachusetts Maritime Academy landed the #5 spot. Set in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, with out-of-state students paying around $23,722. Graduates carry a median of $24,686 in student loans. More on Massachusetts Maritime Academy
California Maritime Academy came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Located in Vallejo, CA, California Maritime Academy is a public institution. About 60% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,559, compared with $22,159 for out-of-state students. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $26,945. See the full California Maritime Academy profile
San Jacinto Community College did well this year, earning the #7 position. This public school is set in Pasadena, TX. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. Read the full report on San Jacinto Community College
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. Maine Maritime Academy graduates 59% of students within six years. 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. Read more about Maine Maritime Academy
Suny Maritime College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. This public school is set in Throggs Neck, NY. About 66% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,589 in tuition and fees, 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
Northshore Technical Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. More on Northshore Technical Community College
Florida Keys Community College came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
Lamar State College Orange ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. See the full Lamar State College Orange profile
Irvine Valley College came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Get the full Irvine Valley College report
Saddleback College came in at #12 in this year's ranking. More on Saddleback College
Clatsop Community College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. Read more about Clatsop Community College
Commercial Divers International did well this year, earning the #14 position. Get the full Commercial Divers International report
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. Read more about Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald
The Landing School ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. See the full The Landing School profile
Seattle Community College Central Campus ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. More on Seattle Community College Central Campus
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Alpena Community College placed #19 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Alpena Community College
South Louisiana Community College came in at #20 in this year's ranking. Get the full South Louisiana Community College report
United States Merchant Marine Academy landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. Read more about United States Merchant Marine Academy
Ocean Corporation did well this year, earning the #22 position. Get the full Ocean Corporation report
Orange Coast College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Transportation schools. Read the full report on Orange Coast College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College report
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #25 in this year's ranking. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Santa Barbara City College placed #26 among Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Santa Barbara City College report
University Of Alaska Southeast did well this year, earning the #27 position. Get the full University Of Alaska Southeast report
Best Marine Transportation Schools by Degree Level
Explore rankings for a specific 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
This list is compiled by Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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