California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, California · Public · 95.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 90/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
California State University Maritime Academy scores 90 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. Cal Maritime is a specialized public polytechnic in Vallejo, CA with 804 enrolled students. The score reflects a 3.7-year payback period, a 72.7% earnings premium, a 0.325 debt-to-earnings ratio, and a repayment rate of 93.6% at 3 years. Average 6-year earnings of $76,700 are exceptional for an institution at this price point; in-state tuition is $9,944 with a net price of $20,555. The 59.7% completion rate is the one weakness keeping the score below 95+. Program outcomes are uniformly strong: Mechanical Engineering (19 grads, $92,315 year-one, $126,395 at year four, grade A), Marine Transportation (53 grads, $87,464 year-one, $117,176 at year four, grade B+), and Mechanical Engineering Technologies (17 grads, $98,661 year-one, grade B+) lead the portfolio. Engineering Technologies (6 grads, $115,589 year-one, grade A) is the highest year-one earning program at Cal Maritime.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.7 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
California State University Maritime Academy
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $9,944/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $22,544/yr |
| Average net price | $20,555/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $82,220 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $94,784 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $76,700 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,965 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.7 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 59.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 804 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $9,944/year ($22,544/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $20,555/year, or roughly $82,220 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $13,552/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,911/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,965, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($76,700) and comes to 0.33, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,552 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $9,768 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,948 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,257 |
| $110,001+ | $24,911 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $13,552 per year at Cal Maritime. The 30001-48000 bracket pays $9,768 - the lowest net price in the schedule, reflecting Cal Grant and federal aid stacking. For low-income California students who can access the maritime or engineering programs, Cal Maritime offers average 6-year earnings of $76,700 against a $9,768-$13,552 per year cost. The 3.7-year payback period and 93.6% repayment rate demonstrate that graduates are succeeding financially. The completion rate of 59.7% is the risk to manage - but students who complete face an exceptional outcome.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $16,948 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $21,257. The step-up from the lower bracket to middle-income is notable - $16,948 is nearly double the $9,768 paid by the 30001-48000 bracket, reflecting that Cal Grant aid phases out quickly. Middle-income families should run the net price calculator carefully. Even at $21,000 per year, the $76,700 average earnings produce a payback period of approximately 4.5 years on total four-year costs of $82,000-$85,000.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $24,911 per year at Cal Maritime - a four-year total near $100,000. At $76,700 average 6-year earnings and a median $94,784 at 10 years, full-pay Cal Maritime remains a solid financial case. Engineering graduates ($92,315+ year-one) recover four years of full-pay costs within 3 to 4 years of graduation. For high-income families whose students are self-selecting for maritime careers, the ROI case is straightforward.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at California State University Maritime Academy with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Marine Transportation | $117,176 | B+ |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $75,574 | B |
| Mechanical Engineering | $126,395 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $126,209 | B+ |
| Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other | $115,589 | A |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $76,478 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering earns an A grade: 19 graduates, $92,315 year-one, $126,395 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.213 on $19,690 median debt. Year-one earnings of $92,315 and a year-four trajectory to $126,395 reflect strong career advancement. At a $20,555 net price, mechanical engineering graduates recover their $19,690 median debt in approximately one year of post-graduation earnings.
Marine Transportation
Marine Transportation is Cal Maritime's largest graded program by confirmed graduate count: 53 graduates, $87,464 year-one, $117,176 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.308 (grade B+) on $26,945 median debt. Marine Transportation graduates are primarily merchant marine officers and coastal/ocean shipping professionals. Year-one earnings of $87,464 reflect U.S. maritime industry wages, which are competitive nationally and particularly strong in California's port economy. The four-year trajectory to $117,176 indicates continued career progression as officers advance in rank and seniority.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is Cal Maritime's lowest-performing program at grade B: 30 graduates, $57,265 year-one, $75,574 at year four, debt-to-earnings 0.358 on $20,500 median debt. The Cal Maritime business program benefits from the institution's industry connections and the signal value of a CSUM degree in maritime commerce.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.0% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 93.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.9% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.0% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How California State University Maritime Academy’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 95.0% |
| Enrollment | 804 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 25.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,097 |
Cal Maritime's 95.0% admission rate is near-open enrollment. No standardized test score ranges are reported. The institution's selectivity operates through program fit and physical standards rather than academic credentials - maritime programs require physical fitness, vision standards, and in some cases USCG licensing eligibility. Prospective students should contact Cal Maritime early about specific program requirements, licensing pathways, and sea time obligations. The high admission rate should not suggest that every admitted student is a fit for the curriculum's demands.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Cal Maritime's 3.7-year payback is unmatched.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| California State University Maritime Academy (this school) | 90 | $20,555 | $94,784 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | 92 | $21,582 | $82,392 |
| University of Connecticut-Avery Point | 87 | $13,807 | $73,997 |
| University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus | 85 | $10,875 | $73,997 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Who Thrives Here
Cal Maritime admits 95.0% of applicants. The Scorecard does not report standardized test score ranges for this institution. With 804 enrolled students and a 25.1% Pell grant rate, Cal Maritime serves a moderately mixed-income student body with a high concentration of students who want maritime, engineering, and transportation careers. The institution is physically and culturally distinct - it operates a training vessel and cadets live in structured dormitories with military-style routines. The campus is not a fit for every student; it is a highly specific vocational environment. Students who self-select for maritime careers and can tolerate the regimented environment are accessing a favorable cost-to-earnings ratio.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether California State University Maritime Academy is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $82,220 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $94,784 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.7 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,965 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $76,700 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
California State University Maritime Academy: Common Questions
Is California State University Maritime Academy worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students California State University Maritime Academy pays off. It scores 90/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $20,555 a year after aid ($82,220 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $94,784 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.7 years to earn back.
How much does California State University Maritime Academy cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $20,555 a year, or roughly $82,220 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do California State University Maritime Academy graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $94,784 ten years after enrolling, roughly $52,984 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off California State University Maritime Academy?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 3.7 years for California State University Maritime Academy. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do California State University Maritime Academy graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,965, against average earnings of $76,700 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at California State University Maritime Academy?
The six-year graduation rate is 59.7%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.