Massachusetts Maritime Academy

The Maritime Academy Route › Massachusetts Maritime Academy

The short answer

A state maritime academy in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, offering Coast Guard license programs for deck and engine officers.
Most recent federal figures (2024–25): about $32,500 in-state and $44,800 out-of-state total cost of attendance.

What it costs

	In-state	Out-of-state
Tuition & fees	$11,420	$23,722
Room & board (on campus)	$14,990	$14,990
Total cost of attendance	$32,541	$44,843

2024–2025, from federal college data (IPEDS) as reported by CollegeTuitionCompare. We could not confirm 2026–27 figures on the academy's own site; check with MMA for current costs, uniforms and sea term charges.

Student Incentive Payment (SIP) program

Students at the six state maritime academies can apply for MARAD's Student Incentive Payment program, which pays up to $64,000 over four academic years. It is optional, and it comes with a service obligation: keep a Merchant Mariner Credential with an officer endorsement for at least six years, sail as a merchant marine officer on U.S.-flagged vessels for at least three years, and accept a reserve commission and serve at least eight years. Breaking the agreement can mean being ordered to active duty or repaying the money with interest. MARAD SIP booklet (2024)

Before you apply

Check that you can qualify for a Merchant Mariner Credential, including the medical standards, before you commit. Before You Spend Money →
Ask the academy which majors lead to an unlimited Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer license; not every major does.
Ask what is not in the published cost: uniforms, sea terms, travel to the ship, and licensing fees.

Costs change every year. Figures on this page come from the sources linked below and were checked in October 2026. Confirm current costs, admission requirements and deadlines with the academy before you apply. Mariners Online is not affiliated with any academy, MARAD or the Coast Guard.

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