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2026 Best Value Marine Transportation Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Transportation bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 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, Trade College 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
Here are the top-ranked schools for value:
For return on investment, no school beat Northwestern Michigan College this year in the United States. This public school is set in Traverse City, MI. Students from in state pay about $5,860 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $13,476. The median Marine Transportation program debt is $26,542. Median earnings reach $38,167 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Northwestern Michigan College profile
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. California Maritime Academy Marine Transportation students take on a median of $26,945 in debt. California Maritime Academy alumni report median earnings of $94,784 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,945 median debt. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted. See the full California Maritime Academy profile
Out of the 27 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Massachusetts Maritime Academy landed the #3 spot. Located in Buzzards Bay, MA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,420, while out-of-state students pay about $23,722. Students borrow a median of $24,686 to complete their Marine Transportation program here. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $82,392. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Massachusetts Maritime Academy admits about 95% of applicants. See the full Massachusetts Maritime Academy profile
You'll get strong value at Suny Maritime College, which ranked #4 this year. Located in Throggs Neck, NY, Suny Maritime College is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,589 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,159 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Transportation student debt is $25,000. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $95,951. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted. More on Suny Maritime College
You'll get strong value at Maine Maritime Academy, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,158, with out-of-state students paying around $31,102. Maine Maritime Academy Marine Transportation students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $89,964. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 54% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
Divers Institute Of Technology placed #6 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Get the full Divers Institute Of Technology report
West Kentucky Community And Technical College came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. See the full West Kentucky Community And Technical College profile
University Of Alaska Southeast offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. More on University Of Alaska Southeast
Clatsop Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #9 position. More on Clatsop Community College
Florida Keys Community College landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Florida Keys Community College
Northshore Technical Community College came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Northshore Technical Community College profile
Alpena Community College came in at #12 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Alpena Community College
Orange Coast College landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Orange Coast College profile
The Landing School offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on The Landing School
United States Merchant Marine Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #15 position. Get the full United States Merchant Marine Academy report
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. Read more about College Of The Marshall Islands
San Jacinto Community College came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. More on San Jacinto Community College
Seattle Community College Central Campus landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Seattle Community College Central Campus
Irvine Valley College offered strong value this year, earning the #19 position. Read more about Irvine Valley College
South Louisiana Community College placed #20 among the best-value Marine Transportation schools in the United States. Read more about South Louisiana Community College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Saddleback College offered strong value this year, earning the #22 position. More on Saddleback College
Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Read more about Tennessee College Of Applied Technology Hohenwald
Santa Barbara City College offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Santa Barbara City College report
Commercial Divers International came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. See the full Commercial Divers International profile
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:
Ocean Corporation landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Ocean Corporation report
Lamar State College Orange ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Transportation schools. Get the full Lamar State College Orange 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 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
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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