Vallejo, CA · Public · 804 undergraduates · urban
California State University Maritime Academy
Less selective
The West Coast's specialized maritime academy, now operating as part of Cal Poly and anchored by intensive sea-training experiences.
Institutional profile
Well established Exceptional in career outcomes, and solid in affordability.- Admission
- 98.7% admitted
- Price by income
- Resident and nonresident prices differ
- Completion
- 69.5%
943 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$94,784 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets California State University Maritime Academy apart
Academic design
Programs emphasize applied technical learning, with license-track students combining classroom work with laboratories, shipboard training, and sea terms. The academy is now academically integrated into Cal Poly.
Campus pattern
The Vallejo waterfront campus retains a maritime academy culture centered on uniforms, cadet life for participating programs, and training aboard ships, while students are now part of the broader Cal Poly system.
Defining feature
The West Coast's specialized maritime academy, now operating as part of Cal Poly and anchored by intensive sea-training experiences.
Can I get in?
98.7% admitted
Applicants should distinguish license-track and cadet pathways from non-license programs because uniform, training, and sea-service expectations differ by major.
Recent applicant pool
943About 99 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for California State University Maritime Academy, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What California State University Maritime Academy weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Show preparation for this curriculum
Programs emphasize applied technical learning, with license-track students combining classroom work with laboratories, shipboard training, and sea terms. The academy is now academically integrated into Cal Poly.
Make the fit specific
The West Coast's specialized maritime academy, now operating as part of Cal Poly and anchored by intensive sea-training experiences.
Account for the tradeoff
Applicants should distinguish license-track and cadet pathways from non-license programs because uniform, training, and sea-service expectations differ by major.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Applicants should distinguish license-track and cadet pathways from non-license programs because uniform, training, and sea-service expectations differ by major.
$70 application fee
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
College funding
Scholarships and financial aid
Review available aid, application requirements, and renewal terms.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at California State University Maritime Academy
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
The West Coast's specialized maritime academy, now operating as part of Cal Poly and anchored by intensive sea-training experiences.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Marine Transportation
Business Administration, Management and Operations
International/Globalization Studies
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians
What is campus life like?
California State University Maritime Academy beyond the classroom
The Vallejo waterfront campus retains a maritime academy culture centered on uniforms, cadet life for participating programs, and training aboard ships, while students are now part of the broader Cal Poly system.
A defining academic feature
Programs emphasize applied technical learning, with license-track students combining classroom work with laboratories, shipboard training, and sea terms. The academy is now academically integrated into Cal Poly.
What shapes an ordinary week
The Vallejo waterfront campus retains a maritime academy culture centered on uniforms, cadet life for participating programs, and training aboard ships, while students are now part of the broader Cal Poly system.
What changes the experience
The West Coast's specialized maritime academy, now operating as part of Cal Poly and anchored by intensive sea-training experiences.