California State University Maritime Academy
Vallejo, California · Public · 95.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 90/100 · Exceptional Value
California State University Maritime Academy scores 90 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale — the highest-scoring institution in this dataset. 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 — the strongest repayment rate in this dataset. Median 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 in the dataset. Business Administration (30 grads, $57,265 year-one, grade B) is the weakest among Cal Maritime programs — and still earns a B. Every program here produces earnings that most institutions would consider a strong result.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.7 years. The national average for 4-year schools is closer to 8-10 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at California State University Maritime Academy is $9,944/year ($22,544/year out-of-state). But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $20,555/year, or roughly $82,220 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $13,552/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $24,911/year.
The median graduate leaves with $24,965 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $265 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $94,784 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.33 - well within manageable territory.
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 median 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 median 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 median 6-year earnings and $94,784 at 10 years, full-pay Cal Maritime remains one of the stronger financial cases in California public higher education. 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 are among the highest for any undergraduate engineering program in this dataset, and the year-four trajectory to $126,395 reflects 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. This is one of the strongest program-level ROI cases in public higher education.
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. What would be a strong result at nearly any other institution in this dataset is the weakest program at Cal Maritime — because the competition within the portfolio is so strong. Business graduates who attend Cal Maritime still earn in the top quartile of comparable programs nationally. 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 92.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 93.6% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 80.9% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.0% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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 Scorecard peer schools include Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal State Bakersfield, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and two UConn campuses. Among maritime academies specifically, Cal Maritime and Massachusetts Maritime Academy are the most direct national peers — both specialize in merchant marine officer training at public institution costs. Cal Maritime's ROI of 90 versus Maine Maritime's 84 reflects primarily the higher California wages in the maritime sector. Among all California public institutions, Cal Maritime's 3.7-year payback is unmatched. The institution is a niche option but for students who self-select for maritime careers, it is consistently among the most financially rational choices in the CSU system.
| 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 one of the most favorable cost-to-earnings ratios in California public higher education.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
California State University Maritime Academy is one of the strongest financial investments in higher education. With a total 4-year net cost of $82,220 and median graduate earnings of $94,784 ten years out, the math works decisively in graduates' favor. The estimated payback period of 3.7 years is well below average.
The data highlights several strengths: strong earnings premium over high school graduates, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,965 is very manageable against $94,784 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.