Graduates earn among the highest incomes nationally, with outcomes that significantly exceed peer expectations.
What graduates earn 10 years after enrollment.
Annual salary at 10 years
Lower quartile earnings
Upper quartile earnings
How graduate earnings grow in the decade after enrollment.
United States Merchant Marine Academy graduates demonstrate unique earnings patterns reflecting maritime industry career progression. Median earnings begin at $96,770 six years after enrollment, remain steady at $96,520 at eight years, then adjust to $90,610 at ten years, representing a 6.4% decrease from the six-year mark.
How outcomes compare to similar institutions.
Graduates from this institution significantly outperform peers — earnings are 94% higher than similar schools.
Financial justification for the investment.
Excellent affordability. Median debt of $8,833 is well under annual earnings, enabling comfortable repayment.
United States Merchant Marine Academy students graduate with exceptionally low debt levels, with median debt of $8,833 compared to a peer median of $21,500—a difference of $12,667 in favor of academy graduates. Debt ranges from $3,500 at the 25th percentile to $14,600 at the 75th percentile, showing compressed borrowing patterns across the student body.
United States Merchant Marine Academy delivers exceptional return on investment, ranking at the 97.8th percentile nationally—among the highest we track. Graduates earn $45,240 beyond expectations compared to similar students, placing the academy at the 99.0th percentile for earnings uplift and qualifying for top 5% national performance.
Approximately 25% of academy graduates continue to graduate or professional study, though confidence in this estimate is low due to the specialized na...
Program mix explains much of the earnings story.
United States Merchant Marine Academy's return performance centers on its single specialized program, classified as Commercial Fishing but encompassing comprehensive maritime transportation education. This program produces graduates earning a median of $101,017, ranking #2 nationally and #1 in New York state.
The program's value score of 80.0 reflects exceptional return on investment combining strong earnings with minimal educational costs. As the academy's flagship and only program, it represents the institution's complete focus on maritime officer training rather than diverse academic offerings.
See which programs drive the strongest earnings and career trajectories
Earnings distribution at the academy shows a relatively compressed range compared to traditional universities. The spread from $69,688 at the 25th percentile to $123,809 at the 75th percentile represents an 1.8:1 ratio, indicating more consistent outcomes than institutions with diverse program portfolios.
