Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 6 reporting college programs.
10-year estimate · Positive payoff
+$257,202 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
The estimate clears the cost within ten years, though your price and time to finish may change the result.
5.4 yrsModeled economic break-even
+87%Modeled 10-year ROI
$100,378Observed earnings · year 4
$93,444Maximum annual price for positive 10-year payoff
The price benchmark is $64,301 per year below this threshold.
Includes direct price and earnings forgone while studying. Assumes $45,000 in alternative annual earnings and no wage growth. How we calculate itFour useful answers about Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
How much do Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering bachelor's degree graduates earn?
The national median is $100,378 four years after completion across reportable bachelor's degree programs in this federal field.
How much federal debt do graduates have?
The median reported federal debt is $27,000. The figure excludes private loans and does not describe every graduate.
Does the college matter for Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering?
Yes. The middle half of reporting programs ranges from $92,972 to $106,186 in observed year-4 earnings.
What careers are related to Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering?
DegreeVerdict links this field to 3 displayed occupations using the official federal CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupational wages are career context, not graduate salary promises.
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$373,775
$20,000Annual price+$293,775
$29,000Current college-wide context+$257,775
$40,000Annual price+$213,775
$60,000Annual price+$133,775
$80,000Annual price+$53,775
$100,000Annual price−$26,225
Observed national outcomes
$100,378Median reported earnings · year 4
$110,218Average reported earnings · year 5
$27,000Median federal debt
94thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
Not availableIPEDS 2023–24 first-major awards across matched colleges
6With year-4 earnings
The award total covers 0 matched college records and is not extrapolated to colleges without a match.
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$92,972National median$100,37875th percentile$106,186
6 programs report year‑4 earnings.DECISION CHECK
What to compare before choosing a program
The national result is only the starting point. Price, debt and the college-level earnings spread can materially change the payoff.
PRICE × EARNINGS MAP
Where colleges sit for this exact degree
Move left for a lower annual college-wide net price and up for higher observed year-4 earnings.
$125,016Observed year-4 earnings$91,759
Maine Maritime Academy$23,414 price · $137,352 earningsMassachusetts Maritime Academy$21,582 price · $125,016 earningsSUNY Maritime College$22,367 price · $106,186 earningsUniversity of Michigan-Ann Arbor$13,138 price · $94,569 earningsWebb Institute$73,043 price · $92,972 earningsTexas A&M University-College Station$21,315 price · $91,759 earnings
$13,138Annual college-wide average net price$23,414
Put the same degree side by side.
Start with the leading reportable programs, then change the selection to match your shortlist.
Compare 3 programs →Choose colleges offering this exact degree
Narrow one field and credential by location, sector and debt, then compare two to four programs side by side.
6 matchesSelect up to four · showing 25 currently operating colleges
Open the full program search →
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Maine Maritime Academy$137,3522Massachusetts Maritime Academy$125,0163SUNY Maritime College$106,1864University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$94,5695Webb Institute$92,9726Texas A&M University-College Station$91,759Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations, wages and demand
Official CIP–SOC links show where this field can lead. They do not imply that every graduate enters the same occupation.
Pay and projected demand
Related careers do not share one outlook
Bubble size = annual openings2025–35 national projection
Higher median wage ↑
-7%Projected employment growth →12%
Occupation wages describe workers in these jobs, not graduates of this degree. BLS projections are national estimates and do not guarantee hiring.
Architectural and Engineering Managers$171,270 median wage220,260 U.S. jobs · SOC 11-9041+5.5% projected employment, 2025–35 · 14.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$120,810–$262,760 10th–90th percentileMarine Engineers and Naval Architects$112,230 median wage8,250 U.S. jobs · SOC 17-2121+6.7% projected employment, 2025–35 · 0.5k annual openingsTypical entry education: Bachelor's degree$83,010–$173,330 10th–90th percentileEngineering Teachers, Postsecondary$109,270 median wage40,270 U.S. jobs · SOC 25-1032+7.8% projected employment, 2025–35 · 3.9k annual openingsTypical entry education: Doctoral or professional degree$61,550–$210,370 10th–90th percentile
BLS May 2025 wages and 2025–35 employment projections. Career context is separate from graduate outcomes.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario, not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Castine, ME | $137,352 | $27,000 | +237% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Buzzards Bay, MA | $125,016 | $27,000 | +200% | Strong payoff |
| 3 | SUNY Maritime CollegeBachelor's Degree | Throggs Neck, NY | $106,186 | $27,000 | +127% | Strong payoff |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $94,569 | Not available | +113% | Strong payoff |
| 5 | Webb InstituteBachelor's Degree | Glen Cove, NY | $92,972 | Not available | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $91,759 | $22,243 | +76% | Positive payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.