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United States Merchant Marine Academy

United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY · Suburb · 962 students
WebsiteForbes rankingScorecard
Application deadlines: Check the admissions site
$6,174
Average net priceYour net price
In-state · 2023-24
<30
30–48
48–75
75–110
110+
By household income — tap a bar
81%
Graduation rate
Entered fall 2017 & 2018
43% typical
$90,610
Earnings 10 years on
Measured 2020 & 2021
$45,606 typical
34%
Acceptance rate
Applied for fall 2024
75% typical · not scored
Accredited by Middle States Commission on Higher Education
About

Located on Long Island Sound, the United States Merchant Marine Academy is a federal service academy renowned for preparing leaders in maritime commerce and defense through rigorous programs in marine engineering, marine transportation, and logistics. Midshipmen navigate a disciplined regimental lifestyle that emphasizes leadership, honor, and physical readiness alongside a demanding STEM-focused curriculum. The academy’s signature feature is the "Sea Year," a transformative experience where students spend up to a year training aboard commercial cargo carriers and military vessels across the globe. In exchange for a fully funded tuition, graduates commit to a multi-year service obligation, uniquely earning a Bachelor of Science, an unlimited U.S. Coast Guard merchant mariner license, and a military officer commission.

Wikipedia: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.

Location
Kings Point, NY, 11024-1634 · Suburb campus
✈
Nearest airport from college
LGA · New York LaGuardia
6 mi away
Open in Google Maps
Cost & aid
Cost of attendance
These figures are federal data and may be out of date.
In-stateOut-of-state
Tuition & fees$895$895
Books & supplies$2,080$2,080
Cost of attendance$9,168$9,168 est.
Average net price$6,174Not published
Out-of-state prices
Tuition & fees$895
Books & supplies$2,080
Cost of attendance$9,168 est.
Average net priceNot published
In-state: $6,174
est. = the in-state cost of attendance with out-of-state tuition swapped in; no out-of-state figure is published.
Net price by family income · in-state students, 2023-24
$0–30k
$1,773
$30–48k
$4,098
$48–75k
$5,897
$75–110k
$8,752
$110k+
$9,168
Outcomes
Completion
Within 6 yrs
81%
Entered 2017–18
Within 4 yrs
75%
Back for yr 2
84%
Transferred
10%
8 yrs after starting · first-time, full-time students
79% graduated · 21% transferred · none still enrolled or left or unknown
Earnings · measured 2020 & 2021
6 yrs after entry$96,770
10 yrs after entry$90,610
Debt
Median at graduation$8,833
Monthly payment$94
Middle 50% owe$3.5k–$14.6k
Green marks a figure above the typical Baccalaureate — diverse fields: 43% graduate within 6 yrs, $45,606 earned 10 yrs after entry.
Admissions
Getting in · applied for fall 2024
Admit rate
34%
Test policy
Required
Per College Scorecard
SAT average
1207
R 560–650 · M 550–650
ACT midpoint
27
Comp 22–29 · E 21–28 · M 22–28
SAT middle 50%: 1110–1300
40080012001600

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Essay prompts
From United States Merchant Marine Academy (usmma.edu) · 2026–27 application · checked Sep 28, 2026
  • Your essay must be at least 500 words and describe your reason(s) for wishing to attend USMMA, your curriculum preference, and your career interests. You should include information about relevant coursework, hobbies and activities, maritime-related experience, and/or military-related experience. You must also state your understanding of and willingness to accept the service obligation upon graduation.
  • Your essay must be 500 words or less and describe a personal experience in which you have overcome adversity.
    500 words max · Optional

Quoted from United States Merchant Marine Academy's own page. The application itself is the final word.

Student Body
Gender
Men 82%Women 18%
Who enrolls
Faculty ratio
13 : 1
Pell grant
8%
Family income
$77,088
Age at entry
19.0
Part-time
0%
Race & ethnicity
White
75%
Hispanic
11%
Black
2%
Asian
5%
Two or more
6%
NH/PI
1%
Varsity sports
NCAA Division III with football · EADA 2024-25
  • Baseball
    Men's
  • Basketball
    Men's · Women's
  • Cross Country
    Men's · Women's
  • Football
    Men's
  • Lacrosse
    Men's · Women's
  • Soccer
    Men's · Women's
  • Swimming and Diving (combined)
    Men's · Women's
  • Tennis
    Men's
  • Track and Field (Indoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Track and Field (Outdoor)
    Men's · Women's
  • Volleyball
    Women's
  • Wrestling
    Men's
Programs & Earnings
Bachelor's degrees by annual completions · 4yr national median earnings
Median earnings, all programs · measured 2020 & 2021
After 6 yrs
$96,770
After 10 yrs
$90,610
Marine Transportation105
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering84
Systems Engineering30
Type your major above to highlight and detail relevant programs.
Institutional
Resources
Full-time faculty
79%
Faculty salary
$11,875/mo
Teaching spend
$11,935
per student
Federal loans
6%
Classification
Carnegie type
Baccalaureate — diverse fields
Undergraduate profile
Four-year, more selective admissions

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