The Maritime Academy Route › SUNY Maritime College
The short answer
- A State University of New York campus in the Bronx, offering Coast Guard license programs for deck and engine officers through its Regiment of Cadets.
- 2026–27 direct costs: about $30,400 for New York residents and $41,300 for non-residents.
What it costs
| NY resident | Non-resident | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,070 | $17,970 |
| Fees | $1,579 | $1,579 |
| Room & board | $17,320 | $17,320 |
| Regimental uniform | $4,384 | $4,384 |
| Direct cost | $30,353 | $41,253 |
2026–2027 undergraduate. SUNY Maritime also lists indirect costs: books and supplies ($1,500), transportation ($1,300) and miscellaneous ($2,546). Source: SUNY Maritime College Cost of Attendance.
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.
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