Touro University

The United States Merchant Marine Academy operates under a distinctive cost model that differs fundamentally from typical public universities. As a federal service academy, Touro University charges no tuition to admitted students; instead, the federal government covers the cost of instruction, and students commit to service obligations upon graduation.

This means the published cost of attendance and traditional net-price calculations do not apply in the conventional sense. Students receive room, board, uniforms, and books as part of their federal appointment, with only modest out-of-pocket expenses for personal items and incidentals.

For families, this represents an exceptionally affordable pathway to an engineering-focused degree with strong long-term earnings outcomes. Because Touro University is a federal service academy rather than a traditional public university, standard financial aid (Pell Grants, federal student loans, Parent PLUS) is not available.

Instead, students receive a full federal appointment that covers all direct educational costs. Graduates incur no federal student debt from their academy education itself, though they do assume a service commitment (typically five years of active duty in the U.S.

Maritime Service or related maritime industry roles). This service obligation is the trade-off for the tuition-free education and living allowance during enrollment.

Azimuth ranks Touro University #849 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability ranking reflects the zero-debt pathway combined with strong median earnings four years after graduation of $73,235.

For graduates who complete their service commitment and transition to civilian maritime or related careers, the absence of student debt and the strong early-career earnings create a durable financial foundation. Families considering Touro University should understand that admission is highly competitive and that the service obligation is a binding commitment, not an optional component of the degree.

Graduates of Touro University earn median 4-year earnings of $73,235, placing Touro University in the 74.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).

Graduates earn about $7,201 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Touro University in the 81.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Touro University #179 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

The earnings pattern at Touro University reflects its concentration in Health fields. Business accounts for 14% of graduates, with Social Sciences and Education representing 5% and 52% respectively — a program mix that channels graduates into stable, in-demand careers with consistent early-career pay.

The highest aggregate-return program is Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings. Among the top programs by graduate count, Psychology, General program graduates 302 students with median four-year earnings of $56,443, and Azimuth ranks the program #49 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).

Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies also post competitive early-career earnings of $135,742 and $54,467 respectively, with Azimuth ranking them #1 and #9 nationally for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. On the higher end, Biology, General and Accounting deliver four-year earnings of $75,886 and $99,047, reflecting the strong salary floors that health-oriented fields typically command in the NY labor market.

Touro University's program mix is anchored in Health fields, with a focused portfolio that channels most graduates into clinical, applied-science, and health-adjacent careers. Business accounts for 14% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 5% and Education at 52%.

Across 20 programs serving roughly 1,348 students annually, the institution's signature is depth in health sciences rather than breadth across unrelated disciplines. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General is the program that combines the largest graduate cohort with strong four-year earnings, making it the core economic driver of Touro University's degree output.

Psychology, General, the largest program by scale with 302 graduates, delivers median earnings of $56,443 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #49 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General and Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies follow as the next largest programs, with graduates earning $135,742 and $54,467 respectively four years after enrollment, reflecting the institution's consistent orientation toward applied health and science fields.

The highest-earning programs at Touro University are concentrated in clinical and applied tracks where graduates enter the workforce directly. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General leads on earnings, with 252 graduates earning median earnings of $135,742 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks it #1 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Nursing and Accounting also post strong four-year figures — $103,863 and $99,047 respectively — consistent with the high-demand labor-market conditions for health professionals in the New York metro area. For context on how these fields align with national workforce demand, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).