Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #282 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $108,757, placing California State University Maritime Academy in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. California State University Maritime Academy sits in the 99.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting the strong financial outcomes graduates achieve relative to similar students at comparable institutions. --- Students at California State University Maritime Academy achieve some of the strongest early-career earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, driven by the academy's focused transportation and maritime program portfolio that connects graduates directly to high-demand, well-compensated careers. The institution's earnings beyond expectations signal that graduates outperform what their backgrounds and enrollment patterns would predict, making Cal Maritime a compelling option for students seeking a specialized, high-return path at a California public institution.
California State University Maritime Academy's published cost of attendance is $29,853. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $13,552, mid-low-income families pay around $9,768, middle-income families pay about $16,948, mid-high-income families pay approximately $21,257, and higher-income families pay roughly $24,911. Azimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #905 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public maritime academy, California State University Maritime Academy benefits from state funding that keeps tuition lower than private alternatives, though net prices still vary substantially by family income. The gap between published cost of attendance and actual net price reflects the institution's need-based aid structure, which reshapes the headline sticker for qualifying families. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and other institutional factors. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,965, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,432; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $108,757, median federal debt of $24,965 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California State University Maritime Academy is a strong fit for students who want a specialized, career-focused degree in transportation, marine engineering, or maritime operations — fields where the institution's concentrated program mix translates directly into strong post-graduation earnings. Students who are comfortable with a structured, vocationally oriented environment and plan to enter the maritime or logistics industry will find the academic focus closely aligned with employer demand in CA and nationally. The earnings case is clear. Graduates earn median $108,757, placing California State University Maritime Academy in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $38,506 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 99.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. For Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.9% are first-generation — the institution offers a direct path into well-paying careers without the debt load typical of broader research universities. Median student debt at graduation is $24,965, a figure that sits comfortably against the strong early-career earnings the program mix supports. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the curriculum is tightly concentrated in Transportation and related applied fields, so students seeking broad liberal arts or multi-disciplinary options will find the program portfolio narrow. The admission rate of 95.0% reflects a selective but accessible process — applicants whose interests align with the maritime and transportation sector will find the outcomes among the strongest available at a public institution of this size.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
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This is the California State University Maritime Academy hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Azimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #282 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Vallejo, CA, California State University Maritime Academy enrolls roughly 804 undergraduates. Retention stands at 77.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 59.7%, reflecting the focused, career-oriented nature of the institution's program portfolio. Where California State University Maritime Academy performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #32 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $108,757, and earn about $38,506 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University Maritime Academy in the 99.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Transportation — a field with strong and stable labor demand — is the primary driver of these outcomes. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. California State University Maritime Academy enrolls 25.1% Pell Grant recipients and 19.9% first-generation students, figures that reflect both the institution's specialized mission and the demographics of students drawn to maritime and transportation careers. Affordability sits in the 36.5 percentile and access in the 4.9 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, consistent with a highly focused institution whose composite strength is concentrated in graduate earnings rather than broad enrollment reach.
Mechanical Engineering
42 graduates
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
35 graduates
Marine Transportation
66 graduates
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other
15 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
35 graduates
California State University Maritime Academy's program mix is defined almost entirely by Transportation and closely related technical fields — a signature that reflects the academy's specialized maritime and engineering identity. Marine Transportation is the program that anchors the institution's economic output, combining the largest graduate cohort of 66 students with strong four-year median earnings of $117,176, making it the single largest driver of the academy's overall earnings profile.
Azimuth ranks Marine Transportation #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, per the [how Azimuth evaluates programs](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) methodology. The institution's strongest-ranked programs cluster in engineering and technical fields.
The Mechanical Engineering program graduates 42 students with four-year median earnings of $126,395, and Azimuth ranks the program #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, with 35 graduates, earns median earnings of $126,209 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Marine Transportation rounds out the engineering cluster with 66 graduates earning $117,176 in median earnings four years after enrollment, ranked #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These programs are high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways — graduates enter the maritime shipping, naval engineering, and logistics industries where hiring demand is concentrated and wages reflect specialized technical credentials.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) framework provides context for how Transportation and engineering fields align with national labor-market demand. Across 6 programs serving roughly 214 students annually, California State University Maritime Academy's focused portfolio means that program outcomes are tightly clustered around a single high-earning occupational family rather than spread across a broad academic range.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Suny Maritime College Similar quality tier (#9632 ranked) | NY | 72% | $95,951 | #9632 | Compare |
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology Similar quality tier (#8051 ranked) | NM | 44% | $76,489 | #8051 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Avery Point Similar quality tier (#10778 ranked) | CT | 88% | $73,997 | #10778 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Similar quality tier (#5429 ranked) | CT | 88% | $73,997 | #5429 | Compare |
Maine Maritime Academy Similar quality tier (#5424 ranked) | ME | 54% | $89,964 | #5424 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California State University Maritime Academy's published cost of attendance is $29,853. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $13,552, mid-low-income families pay around $9,768, middle-income families pay about $16,948, mid-high-income families pay approximately $21,257, and higher-income families pay roughly $24,911.
Azimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #905 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a public maritime academy, California State University Maritime Academy benefits from state funding that keeps tuition lower than private alternatives, though net prices still vary substantially by family income.
The gap between published cost of attendance and actual net price reflects the institution's need-based aid structure, which reshapes the headline sticker for qualifying families. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary based on demonstrated financial need and other institutional factors.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,965, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $38,432; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For the typical graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $108,757, median federal debt of $24,965 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California State University Maritime Academy earn median 4-year earnings of $108,757, placing California State University Maritime Academy in the 99.4 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $38,506 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California State University Maritime Academy in the 99.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks California State University Maritime Academy #32 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That performance reflects the institution's tight focus on Transportation and related applied fields, where graduates move directly into licensed, high-demand roles with strong starting pay relative to the credential cost.
The program lineup at California State University Maritime Academy is concentrated rather than broad. Marine Transportation is the largest program, graduating 66 students and delivering median earnings of $117,176 four years after enrollment — Azimuth ranks it #4 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Mechanical Engineering follows with 42 graduates earning $126,395 at the four-year mark, and Azimuth ranks it #2 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions at 1.4x benchmark. Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians and Business Administration round out the core degree offerings, each tied to CA's maritime, engineering, and logistics labor markets where employer demand and licensing requirements sustain above-average early-career pay.
The institution's narrow program mix — anchored in Engineering (20% of graduates) and Business (16%) — means outcomes are relatively consistent across the student body, with limited dispersion between high- and lower-earning graduates compared with broader universities.
