Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #246 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $113,298, placing Maine Maritime Academy in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for return on investment — a program-level anchor that reflects Maine Maritime Academy's concentrated strength in engineering and maritime career pathways. --- Students at Maine Maritime Academy achieve some of the strongest early-career earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median 4-year earnings placing the academy well above most peers in the Azimuth coverage set. That performance is anchored by a focused engineering and maritime program portfolio that consistently channels graduates into high-demand, high-paying careers — a combination that drives Maine Maritime Academy's strong return on investment ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #246 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Castine, ME, Maine Maritime Academy enrolls roughly 942 undergraduates in a focused, engineering-centered curriculum. Retention is 81.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 58.2%, figures that reflect the structured nature of the academy's degree programs and its small-cohort model. The composite is driven by return on investment. Azimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #24 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $113,298, and earn about $34,980 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Maine Maritime Academy in the 99.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Engineering is the dominant program family, and the academy's tight concentration in maritime-related fields channels most graduates into career tracks with strong early pay and consistent employer demand. Mobility sits in the 55.3 percentile and affordability in the 18.0 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access is the lower-ranked pillar at the 23.9 percentile, shaped in part by the academy's specialized mission and an admission rate of 54.1% — a figure that reflects a self-selecting applicant pool drawn to maritime and engineering careers rather than broad-access enrollment. 24.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.7% are first-generation college students.
Maine Maritime Academy's cost of attendance is $31,046, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income students see a net price of approximately $9,511, while middle-income families pay around $21,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,021. Azimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #1168 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Maine Maritime Academy's engineering-focused curriculum and strong workforce placement record mean that the sticker price understates the institution's long-run value proposition for many families. Need-based aid is available through federal, state, and institutional programs, and the Academy's relatively compact size allows for more direct engagement with financial aid advising than at larger public institutions. Families weighing the net price illusion — the gap between published cost and what students actually pay — will find that Maine Maritime's net prices, particularly for lower- and middle-income families, are meaningfully below the published cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $55,812; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $113,298, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Maine Maritime Academy is a strong fit for students drawn to engineering, marine transportation, and applied technical fields who want a focused, career-oriented program in ME with direct pathways into high-demand industries. Graduates earn in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and Maine Maritime Academy sits in the 99.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $34,980 more than similar students at comparable institutions, a strong signal for students prioritizing post-graduation financial outcomes in technical and maritime careers. The institution enrolls 24.6% Pell-eligible students and 20.7% first-generation students, and median debt at graduation is $27,000 — a figure that, paired with strong early-career earnings, makes Maine Maritime Academy a realistic option for cost-conscious families who need to borrow. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Engineering and maritime-related fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes; and the small, residential campus in Castine suits students who prefer an immersive, professionally oriented environment over a large research university setting.
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.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Maine Maritime Academy hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Maine Maritime Academy's cost of attendance is $31,046, but need-based aid reshapes what families actually pay. Low-income students see a net price of approximately $9,511, while middle-income families pay around $21,162, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,021.
Azimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #1168 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Maine Maritime Academy's engineering-focused curriculum and strong workforce placement record mean that the sticker price understates the institution's long-run value proposition for many families. Need-based aid is available through federal, state, and institutional programs, and the Academy's relatively compact size allows for more direct engagement with financial aid advising than at larger public institutions.
Families weighing the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) — the gap between published cost and what students actually pay — will find that Maine Maritime's net prices, particularly for lower- and middle-income families, are meaningfully below the published cost of attendance. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $55,812; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $113,298, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 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 Maine Maritime Academy earn median earnings of $113,298 four years after enrollment, placing Maine Maritime Academy in the 99.6 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure sits above the $52,536 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $34,980 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Maine Maritime Academy in the 99.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Maine Maritime Academy #24 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The earnings pattern reflects Maine Maritime Academy's concentration in Engineering, which accounts for 44% of degrees awarded. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering combines the largest cohort with strong pay, making it the program that contributes most to the institution's overall return profile.
Azimuth ranks Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 61 graduates earning median earnings of $137,352 — 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. Azimuth ranks Marine Transportation #6 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 49 graduates earning median earnings of $103,417.
Business represents 14% of degrees, and Azimuth ranks International Business #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning median earnings of $77,641. The focused program portfolio channels most graduates into applied, technical fields where early-career earnings correspond closely to the institution's overall strength in return on investment.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
61 graduates
Marine Transportation
49 graduates
International Business
23 graduates
Systems Engineering
11 graduates
Maine Maritime Academy's program mix is built around Engineering and applied maritime fields — a concentrated portfolio that reflects the academy's specialized mission as one of a handful of state maritime academies in the country. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering is the largest program with 61 graduates, followed by Marine Transportation with 49 graduates, International Business with 23 graduates, Systems Engineering with 11 graduates, and Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians with 11 graduates.
Engineering accounts for 44% of degree output, with Business representing 14% — a two-family concentration that shapes the institution's earnings profile. Across 6 programs serving roughly 161 students annually, 3 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold.
The strongest earnings come from fields tied directly to maritime industry pipelines. Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering leads with median earnings of $137,352 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks the program #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Marine Transportation follows with median earnings of $103,417, and Azimuth ranks it #6 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The International Business program graduates 23 students with median earnings of $77,641, and Azimuth ranks the program #17 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering combines the largest cohort with strong pay, making it the primary driver of the academy's overall earnings performance. These programs are overwhelmingly high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways — graduates in marine engineering, marine transportation, and power plant technology enter licensed, credentialed roles with structured career ladders and strong employer demand.
The academy's focused scale means cohorts are small, but graduates enter industries where hiring is consistent and compensation reflects specialized training. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these maritime and engineering fields align with national labor-market demand, and the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across institutions of varying size and mission. ```
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clarkson University Higher acceptance rate (15.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 77% | $89,696 | Compare |
Manhattan College Higher acceptance rate (17.1 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | NY | 78% | $86,316 | Compare |
Bowdoin College Same state (66 miles away) with similar earnings | ME | 8% | $82,735 | Compare |
Colby College Same state (44 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.5%) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | Compare |
United States Merchant Marine Academy Same region with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | NY | 32% | $90,610 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Massachusetts Maritime Academy Similar quality tier in Northeast (#5419 ranked) | MA | 95% | $82,392 | #5419 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Hartford Campus Similar quality tier in Northeast (#5429 ranked) | CT | 88% | $73,997 | #5429 | Compare |
University Of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4382 ranked) | CT | 87% | $73,997 | #4382 | Compare |
New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology Similar quality tier (#8051 ranked) | NM | 44% | $76,489 | #8051 | Compare |
California State University Maritime Academy Similar quality tier (#9629 ranked) | CA | 95% | $94,784 | #9629 | Compare |
