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Marine Transportation at Northwestern Michigan College

Traverse City, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
70
Optimistic
71
Base Case
71
Pessimistic
Earnings $87,281/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Low (13% exposed)
Job Market Small (6,100 openings/yr)
ROI 46.1x earnings multiple (19.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 7 Marine Transportation programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marine Transportation graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $990K $987K $923K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 46.3x 46.1x 43.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 19.4x 19.3x 18.1x
Probability of Field Employment 51% 51% 46%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 71 71

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$21,400
Out-of-state: $51,048 (19.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$20,972
2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
3.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$133,180
53% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Northwestern Michigan College's Marine Transportation graduates start at $87,281/yr — above the $82,677 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The 46.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

With only 13% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, the scenario spread is tight at 7%. Career paths for Marine Transportation are among the more automation-resistant we measure.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $24,000 in median debt clears quickly against $87,281 in annual earnings.

With only 7 programs offering Marine Transportation nationally, this is a niche field. Northwestern Michigan College ranks #1 among them.

Earnings growth from $87,281 to $133,180 over five years (53% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Northwestern Michigan College

with a smaller student body of 2,668 in Traverse City, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwestern Michigan College →

Top Career Paths

Ship engineers $101,320/yr
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels $85,540/yr
Commercial divers $61,130/yr
View all 4 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 7 schools offering Marine Transportation →

Marine Transportation at Other Schools

California State University Maritime Academy ($87,464) Texas A & M University-College Station ($87,444) Massachusetts Maritime Academy ($84,187) Maine Maritime Academy ($82,725) SUNY Maritime College ($79,797) United States Merchant Marine Academy ($69,847)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Marine Transportation trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwestern Michigan College's Marine Transportation program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northwestern Michigan College's Marine Transportation graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
Why does Northwestern Michigan College rank so high for Marine Transportation?
The #1 ranking out of 7 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →