Top 10 Maritime Colleges in the United States
Getting a degree from a reputed maritime university/college and enrolling in good online college classes gives a solid head-start to one’s seafaring career. Many colleges in the U.S offer good maritime courses that you can choose per your interests and career needs.
In this article, we bring you the Top 10 Maritime Colleges of the United States.
The Best Maritime Colleges in the U.S.
1. Florida Institute of Technology
The Florida Institute of Technology offers bachelor’s degrees in environmental science, general biology, oceanography, sustainability studies and ocean engineering.
It also offers Master’s degrees in courses like Conservation Technology, Ecology, and Environmental Resource Management along with Doctoral and Undergraduate Courses as well.
It has also partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary to offer its Auxiliary University Program (AUP). The AUP provides training and certifications which can enable students to participate in activities aboard assets of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.
One can use the experiences in the AUP as qualifications to join the Coast Guard, the NOAA Corps, and other marine-oriented organisations.
Learn more about the Florida Institute of Technology here.
2. Maine Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy is a small maritime institute that provides great opportunities. Being a member of the International Association of Maritime Universities, its students participate in the student exchange program every year with colleges in countries such as Japan, China, Australia, Turkey etc.
Securing a top position in the list of best placement schools, Maine Maritime Academy provides courses such as marine engineering technology, marine engineering operation, marine transportation operation etc.
The institution takes approximately 950 students and equips them with practical skills and knowledge to launch successful maritime careers after completing their associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
Students also get benefits of international sea time aboard the Training Ship State of Maine or Schooner Bowdin and Cadet shipping onboard commercial ships. This training aims to equip them to become excellent mariners and engineers, logistics professionals, scientists and more.
Know more about the Maine Maritime Academy here.
3. Maritime College – State University of New York (SUNY)
The Maritime College – State University of New York has been rated as one of the top maritime colleges in the US. In the past few years, it has received great recognition and ratings.
The salient feature of the college is that it has its own 565-foot Training Ship Empire State VI on which students get an opportunity to travel to different parts of the world and procure hands-on experience.
Moreover, the college also boasts of the best names in the maritime industry coming to them for recruitment.
You can learn more about SUNY Maritime here.
4. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
The Massachusetts Maritime Academy provides degrees such as marine engineering, marine safety and environmental protection, marine transportation etc.
It was founded in 1891 and is the 2nd oldest state maritime academy in the U.S. It was opened to train candidates to become deck and engineering officers for the U.S Merchant Marine but has expanded since then.
Most of its graduates become officers of the U.S Armed Forces. The Academy has a training ship called USTS Kennedy.
Some of the oldest and best maritime professionals serving the maritime industry are from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
You can know more about the Massachusetts Maritime Academy here.
5. United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is one of the finest academies in the U.S for getting a naval architecture and ocean engineering degree.
It is an undergraduate college which prepares young men and women to become officers in the U.S Navy and Marine Corps. Naval Academy students are midshipmen on active duty in the U.S Navy.
They go to the academy for 4 years to graduate with bachelor of science degrees and enter as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. The graduates serve a minimum of 5 years in the Navy or Marine Corps.
The academy has the finest technology and hi-tech support system along with a research facility.
You can know more about USNA here.
6. The University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans’ Boysie Bollinger School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME) offers a Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, a Master of Science in Engineering with a concentration in NAME and a PhD in Engineering and Applied Science.
It is one of the few schools in the country which teaches students how to construct ships and marine structures. The school has a model shop for projects, a UNO Structural Test System, a computer-aided ship design lab and a marine engineering laboratory.
Its graduates find jobs in reputed organisations even before they complete their degrees and become ship and yacht builders, engineers, design consultants, work for offshore companies etc.
You can learn more about the University of New Orleans here.
7. U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
The U.S Merchant Marine Academy is also almost a century old. Located near the famous city of New York, the U.S Merchant Marine Academy provides degrees in marine engineering, marine transport, marine engineering systems, marine operation and technology, shipyard management etc.
It offers a variety of courses in the field of merchant marine.
All the graduates have so many career options after completing their degree from this academy. They can work for 5 years in the U.S maritime industry with 8 years of service as an officer in any reserve unit of the armed forces.
You can know more about the U.S Merchant Marine Academy here.
8. Texas A&M – University of Galveston
Texas A&M is one of the finest colleges in the U.S for learning marine engineering and marine engineering technology. The institute provides an interdisciplinary education in marine propulsion and maritime-related engineering.
It was established in 1962 and is the only academy on the Gulf Coast which offers an opportunity to cadets to learn how to operate and maintain an ocean-going vessel. Apart from training, the cadets sail onboard a training vessel during 3 summer sea terms to get hands-on experience in navigation, engineering and seamanship.
After the program ends, Licence option cadets take exams to become U.S. Coast Guard licensed deck or engineering officers in the Merchant Marine.
Know more about the institute here.
9. United States Coast Guard Academy
The United States Coast Guard Academy provides naval architecture and marine engineering courses. The course is structured to provide a strong educational base to Coast Guard students and those pursuing marine engineering and naval architecture.
The Academy is like no other as it challenges the mind and body. It involves rigorous training and character-building.
You can learn about the U.S Coast Guard Academy here.
10. Webb Institute of Engineering
The Webb Institute of Engineering provides the ultimate professional courses for marine engineering and marine technology.
The institute has a very well-crafted syllabus for the four-year engineering course which enables students to absorb the concepts efficiently. This is one of the institutes, which is not to be missed in case you are planning to do marine engineering.
Know more about Webb here.
You may also like to read –
- 4 Areas Maritime Education and Research Industry Should Consider Without Fail
- 10 Things Maritime Academies Don’t Teach
- Marine Teaching Profession – Getting A Much-Needed Face-Lift
- A Guide to Applying For US Visa For Seafarers
- Maritime Examinations & Courses – Are They Worth the Moolah ?
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The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
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About Author
Raunek Kantharia is a marine engineer turned maritime writer and entrepreneur. After a brief stint at the sea, he founded Marine Insight in 2010. Apart from managing Marine Insight, he also writes for a number of maritime magazines and websites.
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Hi sir i’m a mechanical engg fresher i m interested to do masters in marine engineering so please guide me to the world’s best universities in marine engg thankyou
please sir am from Nigeria and need ur assistance in securing a Maritime shool
I like marine insight
hello,pls kindly send me the courses you offer and the fees.thanks
Dear Mukhtar,
We do not offer any paid courses. All the information available in Marine Insight is free of Cost. Just read and Share the knowledge.
Cheers
LOVE IT
I am a mech eng student i lile merine eng so give for some information in merine eng
How did The California Maritime Academy get left off this list? The Naval Academy isn’t something you just apply to either… I don’t even think their graduates come out with Coast Guard Licenses? The Coast Guard Academy is missing too.
I need a university in US where I can study masters in shipping Or in transport
I cannot BELIEVE that you omitted the California Maritime Academy (a California State University Campus located in Vallejo, CA) from amongst your list of — “The Best Maritime Colleges In the US”! CMA was recognized by Forbes Magazine three years running as being one of “the 100 best colleges in the USA”! And it has been long recognized by the Maritime Industry and Waterfront Business Communities from across the land as a “valuable resource” for finding diligent, hard-working, talented, proven, and focused employees. You need to update your listings for “maritime colleges”, and PRONTO! This is an egregious omission….and yes, I AM a proud CMA grad (Class of ’63) — and a successful “maritime professional” (now retired) who would not have attained a 50+-years successful career in the Maritime Industry were it not for the training, discipline, and education I got at CMA…. You can check me out on LinkedIn…. Captain “Manny” Aschemeyer; Licensed Master Mariner (Unlimited); BS, MNI
I echo Captain Aschemeyer’s comments about the omission of the Best of the Best Maritime colleges, the California Maritime Academy.
I too am a proud 1965 marine engineering graduate and CEO of a machinery manufacturing company, with a successful career in Engineering and business management.
Captian Bob Piazza, USN (Ret)
i want to become a marine engineer
i like the school it has always been my dream but i believe one day i will be there by Gods grace
Sir, what about DMET ,now known as IMU kolkata campus in india for persuing marine engineering?
Please guide me sir
Hi
I am 4th engineer on board tanker ship I want to appear class 2 second engineer officer examination in USA marine engineering college
thanks
Hi
I am 2nd eng on board tanker and carring 1st class certificat , also I have b.e in navl architecture , I would like to pass some extra courses in us which is your advices.remind that all my certifictes are recieved from iran collges.
Yes! I support captain Aschemeyer and captain Bob Piazza…
When I saw the list above about other schools and didn’t see CMA, I didn’t really buy it much cos of this great missing institution on the list.
Well, even without it enlisted it is also a great known academy.
fb @_VCHRIS SWISS
Sir/Madam,
My name is Tony Barry; I am interested in your PhD program in Maritime Engineering. I would like to know about which fields I can research on, and what options are available. I would also like to know if I am eligible for the program. My Experience and credentials are as follows:
Experience:-
– I am currently a Dean and Professor in Vishwakarma Maritime Institute, Pune.
– Have been actively involved in the new ship buildings in the yards and guarantee checks and claims after delivery of new vessels.
– Have been actively involved in the cadet training programs of cadets from Singapore Polytechnic, Singapore and have carried out on board training of several cadets from AMET, Chennai.
– Have worked for world’s most reputed shipping company. Maersk group as Chief Engineer. I have worked in this field for more than 25 years.
Education:-
– Passed 4-years graduation in Marine Engineering from DMET (Calcutta) in the year 1982, securing “First Class with Distinction”. DMET is now called ‘MERI’ (Marine Engineering & Research Institute)
– Passed HSC (10+2) securing “First Class with Distinction”, in the year 1978.
Thanking you,
Tony Barry
Please can l obtain my ETO certificate of competency from this school. I need all your guidelines .
Thanks and best regards.
MORNING SIR, I will like to join the M/N of USA, pls anyone to guide me, just let me know what it will take me,
hi
i do like to get information on hat are the criteria in getting admission into the marine academy in the US and more so i have gained a diploma in marine engineering.
Wic maritime sch in usa offers job after graudation….pls onward together…
I want to apply to Cal maritime university as an international student seeking for a second degree in marine transportation… How can I apply for the process???
Am looking for sponsorship in maritime knowledge specifically in navigation officer of ship above 500GT.
For now I possess mandatory certificates that I obtained from Dar es salaam maritime institute in Tanzania.
Am a Ugandan by nationality of majority age 29.
Looking forward to your kind positive response towards my request
Thanks.
Hello am an international graduated student from marine engineering assistant…please kindly link me with any affordable institution that can admit me for mandatory course in u.s
The Course fee won’t change much but The hostel fees may vary.Please check with the Institute for the fee structure.
Good day sir ,
M Pradeep Singh , 3engineer , sailing in Anglo eastern company. Actually I would like to do MBA after getting my class 1 coc . I am practising GMAT as well but I would like to know name of some maritime business school in India and abroad , can they take directly chief engineer into MBA programs or we have to give TOEFL for them?
Back when I was a freshman, women were not even allowed in certain engineering colleges, and forbidden strictly from Marine Engineering / Maritime academies. Women were not allowed on offshore rigs or vessels, either. Not much has changed, here I sit after 30 years with my Mechanical Engineering degree, and no work in sight for the last year and a half. (Houston’s economy is just awful.) So tell me about why executives overwhelmingly say when surveyed, that they are not doing enough to promote women in this field? It’s because they actively discriminate against them. And there’s nothing we can do about it.
good day sir/madam i am a graduate with a Master in Arts in Ports and shipping Administration from the Regional Maritime University in Ghana and wish to perused a PhD in any maritime field related to my master degree please if you can help me to locate a program it will be of great help to me thanks my email address is
On which one of the listed universities I can get answer why is it called dead weight not dead mass. If I load cargo of 200 tons on ship, is that cargo mass or weight? What is the abbreviation used for cargo and masses of the ship? In physics momentum equals force × lever. Force is mass x (velocity / time). In ship stability we use same equation so why mass becomes weight? You do not load 200 weight on the vessel, but 200 mass. If it is in kg or pounds or tonnes it is mass, not weight. ????
am sarah from nigeria how can i apply
maritime is very good
Am a prospective Engineer because am studying Electrical/Electronic Engineering, but I will love to go into Marine worker.
Am Omowaye Joshua by name presently studying electrical and electronics engineering in Nigeria but am interested in joining the United state naval academy.. How can I enroll for admission into the United State Naval academy..
I am basavaraj,from India am doing diploma in India. I heard that there is free education for all weather it also for merchent navy and other county student’s have rights for it . plz Reply me sir .
@Basavaraj: I am not sure about the information you have acquired. Can you please share more details about it so that we can assist you better?
Good day sir, i will to apply for mandatory courses but i dont went it to be an online course, so is their any how possible for one to be present? and also am a foreign student from nigeria…,Pls i still have contact of the that can grant me visa…Thank you
Dear Sir, I’m Olusegun James Ayanlola, a Nigerian. Holding chief mate Nigeria licence greater than 3000 GRT since 2011, with Diploma in marine surveying secured at UK. Presently I have 17 years of experience at sea, I intend to upgrade my licence at USA. I want to enquire how to secure elegibility for greater licence such as chief mate unlimited or equivalent. Kindly advice.
Hello, I’m an 8 yr CG Vet almost ready to use my GI Bill. I’m gathering old transcripts and in my younger years I wasn’t mature and had poor to just enough grades. I then joined the Coast Guard and had a family which quickly matured me and changed my life. How likely would it be for me to be able to attend one of these top ranked schools? I’m more mature and am strongly dedicated to complete an enginereing degree with my wife and 3 kids backing me up along the way. I belong in the water and have a passion for the ocean. Chasing a dream.
Elias, I would reach out for Maine Maritime. It has a long history of working with non-traditional students who are veterans with families. It also helps that they are the best of bunch. Good Luck to you and your family.
Hello I am a Lecturer in a Maritime university, and am interested in Maritime courses or Training.
I studied Maritime Safety and Environmental Administration.
I would be very grateful if I am been notified of any such available trainings.
Regards
Don’t forget the California Maritime Academy on the West Coast. One of the best out there for sure!
Thank you David ??
Please do check our Safety Section- https://www.marineinsight.com/category/marine-safety/
I’m Adeyemi Emmanuel Tobi from Nigreia I will like to been in US Marine course am interested in it ….
I am working as a AB seaman onboard oil camical vsl 16 years, now I want to do 2nd mate function in USA, is there any Acadamy in USA for 2nd mate function classes,