Marine Transportation: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 7 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Strong payoff
+$472,253 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
Observed earnings clearly outpace the comparison earnings and estimated education cost in this scenario.
3.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
+189%Modeled 10-year ROI
$117,176Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$117,176Median reported earnings · year 4
$111,365Average reported earnings · year 5
$25,771Median federal debt
98thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
7Reporting programs
7With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$107,654National median$117,17675th percentile$119,916
7 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
Find the colleges that fit your constraints
Keep this exact federal field and credential fixed, then narrow the reporting colleges by location, sector and federal debt.
7 matchesShowing up to 25 currently operating colleges
1Northwestern Michigan CollegeTraverse City, MI · PublicYear-4 earnings$136,748Federal debt$26,542Annual net price$6,2312Texas A&M University-College StationCollege Station, TX · PublicYear-4 earnings$124,645Federal debt$25,000Annual net price$21,3153Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay, MA · PublicYear-4 earnings$119,916Federal debt$24,686Annual net price$21,5824Cal Poly Maritime AcademyVallejo, CA · PublicYear-4 earnings$117,176Federal debt$26,945Annual net price$20,5555SUNY Maritime CollegeThroggs Neck, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$115,831Federal debt$25,000Annual net price$22,3676United States Merchant Marine AcademyKings Point, NY · PublicYear-4 earnings$107,654Federal debtNot availableAnnual net price$6,1747Maine Maritime AcademyCastine, ME · PublicYear-4 earnings$103,417Federal debt$27,000Annual net price$23,414
Open the full program search →See the spread, not just the national number.
1Northwestern Michigan College$136,7482Texas A&M University-College Station$124,6453Massachusetts Maritime Academy$119,9164Cal Poly Maritime Academy$117,1765SUNY Maritime College$115,8316United States Merchant Marine Academy$107,6547Maine Maritime Academy$103,417Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsSOC 53-5021 · 2 crosswalk linksMotorboat OperatorsSOC 53-5022 · 2 crosswalk linksCommercial DiversSOC 49-9092 · 1 crosswalk linksShip EngineersSOC 53-5031 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern Michigan CollegeBachelor's Degree | Traverse City, MI | $136,748 | $26,542 | +348% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $124,645 | $25,000 | +200% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Buzzards Bay, MA | $119,916 | $24,686 | +181% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Vallejo, CA | $117,176 | $26,945 | +175% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | SUNY Maritime CollegeBachelor's Degree | Throggs Neck, NY | $115,831 | $25,000 | +163% | Strong payoff |
| 6 | United States Merchant Marine AcademyBachelor's Degree | Kings Point, NY | $107,654 | Not available | +206% | Strong payoff |
| 7 | Maine Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Castine, ME | $103,417 | $27,000 | +113% | Strong payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.