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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.
So you can compare your options, Trade College reviewed 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 Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
Leading the list is San Jacinto Community College, our #1 best-value Marine Transportation school in the United States. Based in Pasadena, TX, San Jacinto Community College is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $2,490, with out-of-state students paying around $6,690. San Jacinto Community College Marine Transportation students take on a median of $11,376 in debt. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,062 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Maine Maritime Academy earned it the #2 place in the United States. Maine Maritime Academy is a public school based in Castine, ME. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,158, while out-of-state students pay about $31,102. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $27,000. Median earnings reach $89,964 ten years out. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Maine Maritime Academy admits about 54% of applicants. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at United States Merchant Marine Academy earned it the #3 place in the United States. Get the full United States Merchant Marine Academy report
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Northshore Technical Community College landed the #4 spot. Read the full report on Northshore Technical Community College
A rank of #5 makes Suny Maritime College one of the best values in the United States. Read more about Suny Maritime College
The Landing School came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Get the full The Landing School report
Orange Coast College placed #7 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Orange Coast College report
California Maritime Academy landed the #8 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full California Maritime Academy profile
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald placed #9 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald
Commercial Divers International came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Commercial Divers International report
Massachusetts Maritime Academy placed #11 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read the full report on Massachusetts Maritime Academy
University Of Alaska Southeast placed #12 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. See the full University Of Alaska Southeast profile
College Of The Marshall Islands placed #13 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on College Of The Marshall Islands
Lamar State College Orange offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Lamar State College Orange
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Florida Keys Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Florida Keys Community College report
Alpena Community College placed #17 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about Alpena Community College
Saddleback College came in at #18 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Saddleback College
Ocean Corporation offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read the full report on Ocean Corporation
Santa Barbara City College offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. See the full Santa Barbara City College profile
Divers Institute Of Technology came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. More on Divers Institute Of Technology
Irvine Valley College came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Irvine Valley College
South Louisiana Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. See the full South Louisiana Community College profile
Northwestern Michigan College came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Northwestern Michigan College
West Kentucky Community And Technical College placed #25 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Transportation Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Clatsop Community College placed #26 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. More on Clatsop Community College
Seattle Community College Central Campus ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full Seattle Community College Central Campus report
Related Marine Transportation Value Rankings
See value rankings for 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 Trade College (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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