Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME
"Dirigo (I direct)"
The Verdict
Perched on a 35-acre peninsula at the head of Penobscot Bay, Maine Maritime Academy produces graduates with some of the highest starting salaries of any Maine public university—often $70-80K+ right out of school with 90%+ job placement. MMA prepares students for Merchant Marine careers (think ship captains, not Navy boot camp), though its NROTC unit provides a Navy commissioning path for those who want it. Graduates with the "Unlimited Tonnage License" can captain any ship, any size, anywhere in the world. Students choose between the Regiment track (uniforms, license program) or Independent track (civilian focus)—not everyone wears a uniform. The academy's new $330 million NSMV State of Maine represents the cutting edge of maritime education.
About
Maine Maritime Academy: public coed college in Castine training Merchant Marine officers, one of two non-federal academies with NROTC. About $25,266 in-state (2026-27).
Tuition & Costs
2026-2027 RatesIn-State
$25,266
Out-of-State
$41,570
Endowment
$48 million
*In-state tuition: $12,172, Out-of-State tuition: $28,000, Food & Housing: $12,502. Regional tuition discount for New England students (NEBHE)
View official tuition pageAdmissions & Selectivity
Admissions Philosophy
selective
Key Requirements
- High school transcript with strong academic record
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or essay
- Physical examination (required for enrollment)
- U.S. citizenship (required for Coast Guard license programs)
- Swim qualification ability
Admitted Student Profile
61%
Acceptance Rate
3.48
Avg GPA
1171
Avg SAT
Location
Campus & Facilities
Campus Size
35 acres
Housing
Dormitory
Enrollment
889
Student:Teacher
10:1
Barracks Life
Housing Type
dorm
Daily Schedule
The Regiment of Midshipmen begins with Regimental Preparatory Training (RPT), a week of indoctrination where new students (called Midshipmen Under Guidance or MUGs) learn the traditions and expectations of the corps. Daily life includes small group musters prior to morning classes, structured study periods, and participation in the regiment's four-year progression from fourth-class to first-class midshipman.
Discipline Model
MMA offers two student tracks. The Regiment of Midshipmen (license track) operates under core values of honor, loyalty, and devotion to duty—members wear uniforms and progress through a structured four-year leadership program leading to Coast Guard licenses. The Independent track is for non-license students who want MMA's engineering and management programs without the uniform requirements. Despite the military structure for Regiment students, MMA is primarily a Merchant Marine school (civilian maritime careers), not a military academy—graduates have no military obligation. All undergraduate students live on campus in Curtis Hall.
Academics & Outcomes
College Matriculation
N/A - Maine Maritime Academy is an undergraduate institution
Where Graduates Go
MMA is one of only two non-federal maritime academies with a Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) unit, providing a pathway to Navy and Marine Corps commissions. Many graduates pursue careers in the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and other military branches.
Hall of Fame
Deborah Doane Dempsey
First woman to graduate from any maritime or service academy in the United States, graduating as class valedictorian. First American woman to achieve Master Mariner rank and command a cargo ship sailing internationally. Received U.S. Navy Meritorious Service Award for Persian Gulf War service.
RADM Mark R. Whitney
Wall of Honor inductee and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
RADM Thomas K. Shannon
Wall of Honor inductee and Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
Kenneth M. Curtis
Former Governor of Maine and U.S. Ambassador to Canada
Larry D. Burrill
Wall of Honor inductee, 24 years of U.S. Navy service retiring as Captain, named Navy League Military Shore Officer of the Year in 1995
Athletics & Physical Training
Varsity Sports
Mandatory PT
NROTC midshipmen participate in physical training 2-3 times per week and must meet Navy Physical Fitness Assessment standards at a minimum of 'Good Low' to remain in the program. All license-track students must pass a 3rd class swim qualification prior to completing freshman year.
Facilities
Harold Alfond Athletic Complex (main athletic facility), Margaret Chase Smith Gymnasium (basketball, volleyball - built 1961), Fitness Center with 24-hour student access, Ken & Lynn Brown Weight Room, Fitness Studio, Bok Pool, and outdoor athletic fields.
External Ratings
We don't collect or moderate reviews. Links point to trusted third-party sources.
Federal Outcomes Data
U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
62%
Graduation Rate
82%
Retention Rate
(1st to 2nd year)
$89,964
Median Earnings
(10 years after entry)
$21,185
Avg. Net Cost
(after financial aid)
$9,181
Avg. Grant
(institutional aid)
80% / 20%
Male / Female
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2026-01)
View on College ScorecardOfficial Federal Data Sources
Verify information directly from U.S. Department of Education databases:
NCES consumer portal with costs, programs, and retention data
Comprehensive institutional data from the IPEDS survey
Department of Education outcomes and cost data
Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs
Related Schools
Cal Poly Maritime Academy
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Cal Poly Maritime Academy in Vallejo, formerly Cal Maritime, is the West Coast's only degree-granting maritime academy, founded 1929, with Corps of Cadets training at sea.
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
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The only maritime academy on fresh water. Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City has trained merchant marine officers since 1969.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
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