Systems Engineering at Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Massachusetts Maritime Academy's Systems Engineering program puts graduates to work at $79,942 within a year—solid middle-of-the-pack earnings for this degree nationally, but notably above the 60th percentile among Massachusetts programs. More impressive is the debt picture: at $27,000, graduates carry significantly less than the national median of $20,500 might suggest, landing in the 5th percentile for debt burden. That 0.34 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically tackle their loans in under a year of focused repayment, which is exceptional for any engineering program.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could swing considerably year to year. A small cohort means one or two outlier careers can dramatically shift the median. Still, the fundamentals look sound—the academy's 95% acceptance rate suggests accessibility, and the modest debt load indicates reasonable cost management even for families who don't qualify for extensive aid.

For parents weighing options, this presents a low-risk entry into engineering. Your child won't emerge with eye-popping Silicon Valley compensation, but they'll have manageable debt and earnings that comfortably exceed what most bachelor's degree holders make. If the maritime focus aligns with their interests, the conservative debt load makes this worth serious consideration, though you'll want to verify recent job placement data given the small sample size.