Admit rate has ranged 45%–61% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Maine Maritime Academy isn't just a college—it's a launchpad for high-paying maritime careers, where students trade lecture halls for engine rooms and coastal waters. With a 56% acceptance rate and a regimented student life, this tiny public academy in Castine punches far above its weight in graduate earnings (median $113K within four years) thanks to its hyper-specialized programs in naval architecture and marine engineering. Expect a no-nonsense, hands-on education where 90% job placement meets lobster-boat camaraderie.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
942
In-state tuition
$15,158
Out-of-state tuition
$31,102
Top Major
Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering (36%)
Acceptance Rate
56%
On-Campus Housing
58%
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Median Grad Salary (4 yrs)
$113,000
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$89,964
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.8×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
58%
First-year retention
82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
88%
Pell (lower-income) share
31%
First-generation share
21%
Endowment / student
$55,214
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$106,421
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
101
Summer high
72°F
Winter low
22°F
Annual rain
53.3"
Annual snow
44.7"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
39
Scholarly works
303
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
3.5%
Bottom → top quintile
46%
From bottom quintile
8%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Maine Maritime Academy?
Maine Maritime Academy's acceptance rate is approximately 54% (Castine, ME), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Maine Maritime Academy?
Admitted students at Maine Maritime Academy typically score 1095–1260 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Maine Maritime Academy cost?
At Maine Maritime Academy, the average net price (after aid) is about $23,414 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Maine Maritime Academy?
Maine Maritime Academy enrolls approximately 942 undergraduate students.
Where is Maine Maritime Academy located?
Maine Maritime Academy is located in Castine, ME.
Admissions
Getting into Maine Maritime requires more than just decent grades—it demands a tolerance for salt spray and diesel fumes. The academy admits 56% of applicants, with early applicants enjoying a 40.2% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. advantage. Middle 50% SAT scores range from 1095-1260 (math-heavy at 530-635 for math alone), while ACT takers average 21-26. Admitted students typically sport a 3.4 GPA, though the school accepts TOEFL scores for international applicants in lieu of standardized tests. Notably, while in-state students benefit from an open admission policy for most programs, out-of-state applicants face selective hurdles.
Forget theoretical—every program here smells faintly of engine grease. The 950 undergraduates choose between brutal hands-on majors like Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (36% of students) and Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer training (28%). The five-year Marine Engineering Systems degree includes a year solely dedicated to passing the Fundamentals of Engineering exam. With a 10:1 student-faculty ratio, classes are intimate but intense; labs range from wave tanks to fully operational engine rooms. This isn’t a school for the undecided—every syllabus ties directly to Coast Guard certifications or merchant marine licensure.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$49,464
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Life at MMA splits between the Regiment of Midshipmen’s military discipline and the roughneck camaraderie of a fishing crew. 58% of students live on campus in no-frills dorms, with strict conduct codes for those in the regiment. The calendar revolves around maritime traditions—think knot-tying competitions rather than frat parties—though dances and movie nights provide respite. Athletics lean toward sailing and powerboating, befitting a school where even the bio majors can probably rebuild a diesel engine. Student reviews praise the "good quality" engineering labs but warn newcomers: this isn’t the place for those allergic to hard work or Nor’easters.
The payoff here is staggering—graduates report a median income of $113,000 within four years, outperforming Ivy League peers in ROI. A 90% job placement rate reflects industry demand for MMA’s licensed engineers and officers. The 61% six-year graduation rate (69% for first-time freshmen) beats national averages, though attrition weeds out those unprepared for the regimented lifestyle. Alumni dominate the maritime sector, with many walking directly onto six-figure tanker jobs or Coast Guard positions. As one LinkedIn analysis noted: "No other college delivers this ROI at sticker price."
At $29,641 Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. (after average $19,019 aid packages), MMA undercuts private maritime colleges while delivering superior earnings. 60.76% of students receive financial aid, with merit scholarships drawing from a $1.2 million endowment. The school aggressively directs applicants toward no-cost scholarship searches, and its net price calculator helps families anticipate costs. Notably, even with aid, students often graduate with debt—but that $113K median salary tends to erase loans faster than at liberal arts colleges.
MMA is the tradeschool of the seas—a place where "applied learning" means fixing engines at 3 AM during a winter storm drill. Its tiny size belies massive industry clout; recruiters swarm the career fair for graduates who already hold Coast Guard licenses. The regiment structure instills naval discipline, while the waterfront location turns Penobscot Bay into a 35-acre lab. For students who want zero gen-ed fluff and a direct path to six figures, no school—not even Annapolis—delivers more bang for the buck.
Maine Maritime Academy logo · sourceWaterfront - Maine Maritime Academy · sourceAdmissions - Maine Maritime Academy · sourceNew Report Finds That Maine Maritime Academy Is One Of The Best Values In Higher Education In U.S. | Maine Public · source
