Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Students study the design, construction, and maintenance of ships, submarines, offshore platforms, and other marine vessels and structures. Graduates typically pursue careers at shipbuilding companies, the U.S. Navy, offshore energy companies, and marine engineering consultancies. This specialized field offers strong compensation, particularly in defense contracting and offshore energy.
What Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering graduates do
Your career will likely begin at a design firm or shipyard, where you’ll be deep in the technical details of creating vessels. You’ll spend your days using specialized software to design everything from the hull’s shape to the complex onboard power and propulsion systems, running simulations to test for stability, stress, and hydrodynamic efficiency.
After several years of technical mastery, you can progress into an engineering manager role. Here, your focus shifts from executing designs to leading them. You’ll oversee project timelines, manage multimillion-dollar budgets, and guide teams of engineers, making you the key link between clients and the shipyard. For those inclined toward research, a path in postsecondary teaching is the fastest-growing option, allowing you to mentor students and advance the field.
AI is poised to become a powerful assistant in this field, automating significant chunks of routine analysis and initial drafting. The jobs aren’t disappearing, but your daily work will change. Your value will shift from performing calculations to defining complex problems, critically evaluating AI-generated options, and making the final engineering judgments on novel designs.
Related majors worth comparing: Agricultural Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Engineering Science.
Where Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering graduates work
Common career paths for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 19,200 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Architectural and engineering managers
|
$167,740
$135K–$207K
|
14,500 | +3.8% | Moderate · 41% |
|
Engineering teachers, postsecondary
|
$106,120
$80K–$136K
|
4,100 | +8.1% | High · 50% |
|
Marine engineers and naval architects
|
$105,670
$88K–$134K
|
600 | +5.8% | Moderate · 42% |
Best schools for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 5 of 5.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Webb Institute
Glen Cove, NY · Private nonprofit
|
47 | $75,834 | 2.1x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| Maine Maritime Academy
ME |
$108,130 |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy
MA |
$100,024 |
| SUNY Maritime College
NY |
$92,559 |
| Webb Institute
NY |
$75,834 |
| Texas A & M University-College Station
TX |
$72,361 |
Best ROI Top 5
| SUNY Maritime College
NY |
33.7x |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy
MA |
26.1x |
| Maine Maritime Academy
ME |
20.6x |
| Texas A & M University-College Station
TX |
17.2x |
| Webb Institute
NY |
2.1x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering.
Frequently asked about Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering
What do Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering graduates make in their first year?
Across 5 schools, Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering graduates earn an average of $89,782 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $72,361 to $108,130 depending on the school.
How exposed is Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering to AI disruption?
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with 50% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.
Which school has the best Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering program?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), SUNY Maritime College ranks #1 for Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering with a score of 76/100 and graduate earnings of $92,559/yr.
Is a Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering degree worth the investment?
The average 10-year earnings multiple is 19.9x tuition. This is a strong return on investment. The spread between the best and worst programs is wide, so individual school selection has a major impact.