Cal Poly Maritime Academy — ROI, Cost & Payback
Cal Poly Maritime Academy charges a net price of $20,555/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $82,220. Graduates earn a median $94,784 ten years after entry, $46,424/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 1.8 years — a 20-year net return of $846,260, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Cal Poly Maritime Academy's 1.8-year payback ranks #52 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 96% of them, and #17 of 334 in California.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $20,555/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $82,220 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $94,784 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $46,424/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $24,965 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 1.8 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $846,260 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Cal Poly Maritime Academy's own numbers. Net price $20,555 × 4 years = $82,220 total. Median earnings $94,784 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $46,424 a year of premium. $82,220 ÷ $46,424 = 1.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $846,260. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Cal Poly Maritime Academy students graduate with?
A median $24,965 in federal loans among completers, or 26% of the $94,784 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Cal Poly Maritime Academy students graduate?
60% finish their degree — 40% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $82,220 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $137,033 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Cal Poly Maritime Academy expensive compared with other California colleges?
Its $20,555 net price runs $650 above the $19,905 median across the 334 California colleges we profile, or $2,600 more across the full degree.