What you'll do in college
Naval majors train for careers operating and managing ships and maritime systems.
Coursework covers navigation, seamanship, marine transportation, vessel operations, maritime law, and logistics, combined with extensive hands-on training at sea. Programs are highly structured — often tied to a maritime academy and a license track — and culminate in U.S. Coast Guard credentialing as a merchant marine officer.
What you'll do after college
Grads ship out as deck officers and engineers aboard commercial and government vessels, or move into shoreside roles in port operations, logistics, marine insurance, and maritime administration. The licensed officer pipeline offers strong starting pay and a clear path to senior shipboard ranks.
Many also commission into the Navy, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marine reserve, and the skills transfer into the broader transportation and supply-chain industries.
Selectivity vs. earnings
By acceptance rate
By SAT median
Earnings vs. selectivity rank
Majors in this category
| Major | Colleges | Degrees ▼ | Male/Female | Intl | Earnings | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval | 9 | 314 | 75% / 25% | 2% | $101,539 | 97% |
| Marine Transportation | 3 | 203 | 80% / 20% | 2% | $103,611 | 95% |
| Merchant Marine | 1 | 64 | 80% / 20% | 0% | $108,031 | 100% |
| Maritime Studies | 5 | 47 | 43% / 57% | 4% | $83,749 | 100% |