Program Analysis
At $87,464 per year, Marine Transportation graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn slightly above the $82,677 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.
With a 28.4x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 7% spread between best and worst-case AI scenarios signals strong resilience. Most career paths mapped to Marine Transportation involve work that current AI cannot replicate.
The median debt load of $26,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
Marine Transportation is offered at just 7 schools in our analysis. California State University Maritime Academy's #2 ranking should be read in that context.
A 34% earnings increase from $87,464 to $116,871 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.