United States Merchant Marine Academy — ROI, Cost & Payback
United States Merchant Marine Academy charges a net price of $6,174/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $24,696. Graduates earn a median $90,610 ten years after entry, $42,250/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 0.6 years — a 20-year net return of $820,304, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
United States Merchant Marine Academy's 0.6-year payback ranks #7 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 100% of them, and #2 of 203 in New York.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $6,174/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $24,696 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $90,610 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $42,250/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $8,833 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 0.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $820,304 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on United States Merchant Marine Academy's own numbers. Net price $6,174 × 4 years = $24,696 total. Median earnings $90,610 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $42,250 a year of premium. $24,696 ÷ $42,250 = 0.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $820,304. 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 United States Merchant Marine Academy students graduate with?
A median $8,833 in federal loans among completers, or 10% of the $90,610 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of United States Merchant Marine Academy students graduate?
82% finish their degree. Spread the $24,696 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $30,117 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is United States Merchant Marine Academy expensive compared with other New York colleges?
Its $6,174 net price runs $12,739 below the $18,913 median across the 203 New York colleges we profile, and $50,956 less across the full degree.