United States Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
United States Merchant Marine Academy at a Glance
The United States Merchant Marine Academy is a United States service academy in Kings Point, New York. It trains its midshipmen to serve as officers in the United States Merchant Marine, branches of the United States Armed Forces, and the transportation industry. Midshipmen are trained in marine engineering, navigation, ship's administration, maritime law, personnel management, international law, customs, and other subjects important to the task of running a large ship.
1943
83 years old
1,011
85
82 acres
Identity
Is United States Merchant Marine Academy Worth It?
United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $6,174/year net price and $90,610 median earnings, graduates earn 14.7× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.3 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 81% graduation rate means roughly 19% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
Median student debt of $8,833 is manageable at just 10% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: United States Merchant Marine Academy delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How United States Merchant Marine Academy compares to peer public colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #1 of 6 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | United States Merchant Marine Academy | 100 | $6,174 | $90,610 |
| #2 | New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | 100 | $9,873 | $76,489 |
| #3 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | 34 | $10,864 | $66,479 |
| #4 | Ohio State University-Marion Campus | 34 | $11,488 | $60,409 |
| #5 | Ohio State University-Lima Campus | 24 | $12,940 | $60,409 |
| #6 | Ohio State University-Mansfield Campus | 14 | $16,197 | $60,409 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of United States Merchant Marine Academy's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at United States Merchant Marine Academy
Program-level earnings data isn't available for United States Merchant Marine Academy. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $6,174/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Kings Point, NY
- Student Body
- 962 students
- Admission Rate
- 34%
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,174
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $90,610
- Median Student Debt
- $8,833