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2026 Best Value Marine Transportation Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Transportation programs programs in the United States? We have ranked 27 institutions 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 help you make your decision, Trade College 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 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. Located in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $11,376. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $43,062. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Get the full San Jacinto Community College report
You'll get strong value at Northwestern Michigan College, which ranked #2 this year. Set in Traverse City, MI, Northwestern Michigan College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,476 for out-of-state students. The median Marine Transportation program 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 #3 on this year's best-value Marine Transportation ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Vallejo, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,559, while out-of-state students pay about $22,159. Graduates carry a median of $26,945 in student loans. 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%. Get the full California Maritime Academy report
You'll get strong value at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, which ranked #4 this year. Set in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,420, compared with $23,722 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $24,686 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $82,392 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $24,686 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%. See the full Massachusetts Maritime Academy profile
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Suny Maritime College landed the #5 spot. Suny Maritime College is a public school based in Throggs Neck, NY. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,589, compared with $19,159 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $95,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 72% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Suny Maritime College
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Maine Maritime Academy is a public school based in Castine, ME. Students from in state pay about $15,158 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $27,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $89,964. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
Divers Institute Of Technology landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. This private for-profit school is set in Seattle, WA. Divers Institute Of Technology Marine Transportation students take on a median of $9,500 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $62,489. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Divers Institute Of Technology
Florida Keys Community College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #9 in this year's value ranking. Get the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College report
Northshore Technical Community College placed #10 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Northshore Technical Community College
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald
Clatsop Community College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full Clatsop Community College report
Ocean Corporation offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. See the full Ocean Corporation profile
College Of The Marshall Islands landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
The Landing School offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. More on The Landing School
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. More on Texas A And M University College Station
Orange Coast College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Orange Coast College
Santa Barbara City College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. More on Santa Barbara City College
Lamar State College Orange ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. See the full Lamar State College Orange profile
Irvine Valley College placed #20 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Irvine Valley College
Alpena Community College placed #21 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Alpena Community College
South Louisiana Community College landed the #22 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about South Louisiana Community College
United States Merchant Marine Academy placed #23 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full United States Merchant Marine Academy profile
Commercial Divers International ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. See the full Commercial Divers International profile
University Of Alaska Southeast ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full University Of Alaska Southeast report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Transportation Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Seattle Community College Central Campus profile
Saddleback College came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. More on Saddleback College
Best Value Marine Transportation Schools by Degree Level
Compare value rankings by 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
This list is compiled by Trade College (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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