SUNY Maritime College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
SUNY Maritime College is a public institution in New York known for its specialized programs in maritime transportation, engineering, and related fields. With a focus on professional development, leadership, and high-impact career training, the college provides a unique and transformative educational experience. Its commitment to excellence in maritime education makes it a premier choice for students seeking a direct and effective path to success in the global maritime industry.
SUNY Maritime College Acceptance Rate
Admission at SUNY Maritime College is inclusive by design. 78.5% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Recommended Academic Profile
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
SUNY Maritime College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at SUNY Maritime College is 3.4. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.10–3.4 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 3.60–3.80.SUNY Maritime College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective, with solid academic performance as the expectation.
Recommended Strategy: A clear, defined strength in one activity or research area matters more than breadth.
This range is a rough map. Where you land determines what else needs to carry weight in your application.:
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Membership in the Regiment of Cadets is mandatory for any student pursuing a U.S. Coast Guard license (deck or engine); it includes leadership training, drill, and summer Sea Terms aboard the Training Ship Empire State VII.
- The Cadet Appointment Program (CAP) scholarship requires a minimum unweighted GPA of 87 (BS) or 90 (BE), with applications due by the January 31 regular decision deadline.
- SUNY Maritime requires an admissions essay (unlike many SUNY schools) and one letter of recommendation, alongside a holistic review that includes Regents, AP, IB, and dual-enrollment credit.
- All entering freshmen must complete a mandatory math placement exam administered the summer before entrance, separate from any submitted SAT/ACT scores.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: Course rigor is read alongside the number itself. A 3.8 with a demanding schedule can beat a 4.0 without one.
- Trajectory Matters: Grades that climb toward graduation tend to matter more than a flat average. The trajectory tells its own story.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at SUNY Maritime College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from SUNY Maritime College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
SUNY Maritime College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at SUNY Maritime College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into SUNY Maritime College Without SAT or ACT?
SUNY Maritime College Average SAT Score: 1199
Admitted students at SUNY Maritime College average a 1199 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
A 1199 average leaves meaningful room above it for a competitive application.
Scored under 1091? A retake is worth it at SUNY Maritime College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 596 | 546 | 645 |
| SAT Reading | 593 | 545 | 640 |
| SAT Composite | 1199 | 1091 | 1285 |
A score under 1091 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 1285+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into SUNY Maritime College with a 1300 SAT?
At 1300, your SAT is squarely in SUNY Maritime College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
SUNY Maritime College ACT Requirements
SUNY Maritime College's admitted students average an ACT of 24.
ACT Competitiveness
An average of 24 tracks near the middle of the national distribution.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 26 | 24 | 28 |
| ACT Composite | 24 | 22 | 26 |
Can I get into SUNY Maritime College with a 26 ACT?
At 26, you're in the top quarter of SUNY Maritime College's admitted class by ACT score. That's a real advantage, but admissions still reads GPA, essays, and activities alongside it.
The ACT's four sections, English, Math, Reading, and Science, are each scored independently on a 1–36 scale, and admissions staff do notice a lopsided breakdown. If one section trails the others significantly, that's worth addressing before you apply, particularly for STEM programs where Science carries extra weight.
Beyond the number itself, SUNY Maritime College weighs your transcript rigor, activities, recommendations, and essays just as heavily. The ACT opens the door, and the rest of your file decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for SUNY Maritime College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Getting into SUNY Maritime College isn't the hard part. Building a solid academic foundation and securing aid early is where the real strategy lives.
Anyone pursuing a U.S. Coast Guard license (third mate/deck or third assistant engineer) must belong to the Regiment of Cadets, which layers military-style leadership training, physical fitness requirements, and summer Sea Term deployments aboard the Training Ship Empire State VII on top of academic coursework. If a license-bearing degree is your goal, research the Regiment's Rules and Regulations Manual directly, since this is a genuine daily-life commitment (drill, musters, quiet study hours), not a symbolic add-on.
SUNY Maritime's Cadet Appointment Program (CAP) scholarship requires a minimum unweighted GPA of 87 for Bachelor of Science candidates or 90 for Bachelor of Engineering candidates, with applications due by the January 31 regular decision deadline - meeting the GPA doesn't guarantee eligibility, since applications are reviewed individually. If you're aiming for CAP specifically, calculate your unweighted GPA precisely against these thresholds well before the deadline, since weighted GPA won't be the number that counts.
Coast Guard physical requirements for licensure are determined individually at the time of application during senior year, and the college explicitly states cadets who are not physically qualified should not expect to receive a waiver - though those not qualified for the Merchant Marine license may still be eligible for a Naval Reserve commission through NROTC, since physical standards differ between the two programs. If you have a known physical condition that might affect licensure eligibility, research both pathways (Merchant Marine license vs. NROTC) early rather than assuming a waiver will resolve the issue later.
All entering freshmen must complete mathematics testing administered during the summer before entrance, a requirement separate from any general admissions test scores you've submitted. Don't skip or deprioritize this exam because you already submitted the SAT/ACT or feel confident in math - it's a distinct, mandatory placement step that determines your entering math course sequence.
A specific and easy-to-miss detail is that meeting the Cadet Appointment Program's GPA thresholds (87 unweighted for BS, 90 for BE) does not guarantee scholarship eligibility - applications are still reviewed individually by the admissions team, so a student assuming the published GPA numbers function as an automatic cutoff may be surprised when a qualifying GPA alone doesn't secure the award.
SUNY Maritime College Profile
Is a SUNY Maritime College Degree Worth It?
Whether SUNY Maritime College is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $80,100, and graduates see a 3.18% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from SUNY Maritime College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $28,880/year at SUNY Maritime College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $21,781.
At SUNY Maritime College, 20.6% receive a Pell Grant and 40.7% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming SUNY Maritime College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a SUNY Maritime College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, SUNY Maritime College graduates report a median income of $95,951, about 136% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than SUNY Maritime College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Georgia College & State University | Milledgeville, GA | 1150 | 24 |
| Georgia State University | Atlanta, GA | 1149 | 23 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as SUNY Maritime College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than SUNY Maritime College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
Degree Programs at SUNY Maritime College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Professional Certificate Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About SUNY Maritime College Admissions
Graduates of SUNY Maritime College earn a high median salary of $95,951/year, varying by field.
Tuition at SUNY Maritime College is relatively affordable, around $28,880/year.
20.6% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. SUNY Maritime College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
SUNY Maritime College's acceptance rate is 78.5%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted SUNY Maritime College students is 3.4, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 3.1 puts you in the standard applicant pool at SUNY Maritime College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 3 or below makes admission tougher at SUNY Maritime College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
SUNY Maritime College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 1199, and within the 1091–1285 range, keeps you competitive.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
