United States Merchant Marine Academy
#5 Most Affordable Colleges for Engineering- Graduation Rate
- 81% A-
- Most students who enroll finish their degree here
- Earnings (10yr)
- $90,610 A+
- Top 2% nationally — exceptional earning power
- Net Price
- $6,174 A-
- 64% less than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 34% A
- Admits roughly 34% — highly selective
Bottom line: A A- overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 69.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $69.0 over 20 years. Ranked #5 in Most Affordable Colleges for Engineering.
Every $1 spent returns $69.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,679,750.
What The Data Says
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An A- overall — top 14% of all U.S. colleges on measured outcomes.
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Graduates earn 122% more than the national college median.
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A 81% graduation rate — 43% above the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $69.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why United States Merchant Marine Academy Matters
United States Merchant Marine Academy is a public college in Kings Point, NY and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and low net price paired with solid completion. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 2% of all U.S. colleges.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 962
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Engineering, Transportation
Why students choose United States Merchant Marine Academy
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 34% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1110–1300. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,174 a year after grants and scholarships — 64% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $90,610 ten years after enrolling — 122% above the typical college, against $8,833 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.68 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At the United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY, students are drawn to a unique blend of engineering and transportation studies, preparing them for careers that are both impactful and rewarding. With an acceptance rate of 34%, the academy attracts motivated individuals who are eager to dive into a rigorous academic environment. The graduation rate of 81% speaks to the commitment of students and faculty alike, fostering a community where focused learning leads to real-world application.
Looking beyond graduation, the financial outlook for alumni is promising. Graduates earn an impressive average of $90,610 within ten years of finishing their degrees. This strong earning potential suggests that students who excel in programs here often find themselves on a path to upward mobility. Affordable education is another plus, with a net price of just $6,174 after aid, making this academy an attractive option for those mindful of their financial future.
When it comes to the practicalities of attending, students tend to thrive here by embracing the challenges of a disciplined and structured environment. With a median debt of only $8,833, graduates can manage their student loans effectively, allowing them to focus on their careers without overwhelming financial burdens. This balance of cost and quality education makes the United States Merchant Marine Academy a compelling choice for those ready to commit to their future in engineering or transportation.
Rankings
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges for Engineering
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges for Mechanical Engineering
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges for Electrical Engineering
- #5 Most Affordable Colleges for Civil Engineering
- #7 Best Engineering Colleges in New York
- #14 Colleges With the Highest ROI
- #15 Best Bachelor's Programs in New York
- #16 Best Master's Programs in New York
Can I Get In?
How selective United States Merchant Marine Academy is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into United States Merchant Marine Academy? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kings Point, New York, United States Merchant Marine Academy reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,207. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 34%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- SAT Average
- 1207
- ACT Midpoint
- 27
- SAT Range
- 1110–1300
- ACT Range
- 22–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 79%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,875
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- Applicants
- 1,532
- Admitted
- 419
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend United States Merchant Marine Academy? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at United States Merchant Marine Academy is $895, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,174. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,773 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,833 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $895
- Out-of-State
- $895
- Avg Net Price
- $6,174
- Median Debt
- $8,833
- Pell Grant Rate
- 8%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 6%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $1,773
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,098
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $5,897
- Family Income $110K+
- $9,168
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at United States Merchant Marine Academy — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is United States Merchant Marine Academy Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of $90,610, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $96,770
- 8 Years
- $96,520
- 10 Years
- $90,610
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.1x
- Earning > $25K
- 90%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (174)
- 76%
- 100% (174)
- 76%
- 100% (174)
- 76%
- 100% (174)
- 76%
How United Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is United States Merchant Marine Academy Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, United States Merchant Marine Academy delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,174/year ($24,696 total). Graduates earn $90,610 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,704,446 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,679,750 (69.0× your investment). The median debt is $8,833, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 81% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,696
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,704,446
- Net Return
- $1,679,750
- ROI Multiple
- 69.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,174
- Median Debt
- $8,833
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 81%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields United States Merchant Marine Academy awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Engineering 56%
- Transportation 44%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for United States Merchant Marine Academy's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CAerospace Engineer$130,720 · 6% growthResilient 72
- C-Nuclear Engineer$124,280 · 1% growthResilient 72
- C-Robotics Engineer$105,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
- COperations Manager$103,650 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CBiomedical Engineer$100,730 · 5% growthResilient 72
- CControls Engineer$100,000 · 5% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into United States Merchant Marine Academy? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Kings Point, New York, United States Merchant Marine Academy reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 34%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,207. The graduation rate is roughly 81%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend United States Merchant Marine Academy? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at United States Merchant Marine Academy is $895, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,174. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $1,773 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $8,833 in federal student loans.
Is United States Merchant Marine Academy Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of United States Merchant Marine Academy earn a median of $90,610, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.
How Connected Is United States Merchant Marine Academy? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at United States Merchant Marine Academy. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to United States Merchant Marine Academy.
- The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and ArtNew York, NY · Close peer81% grad $83,847 earn 21% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- New Mexico Institute of Mining and TechnologySocorro, NM · Strong match57% grad $76,489 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar size
- Scripps CollegeClaremont, CA · Strong match85% grad $77,539 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Maine Maritime AcademyCastine, ME · Strong match60% grad $89,964 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Trinity CollegeHartford, CT · Strong match83% grad $90,779 earn 29% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Union CollegeSchenectady, NY · Strong match83% grad $88,604 earn 44% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is United States Merchant Marine Academy? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at United States Merchant Marine Academy. Its economic connectedness score is 1.68, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note