,·Federal Service Academy (Public)·Est. 1943
“The fifth federal service academy — where Midshipmen earn a degree, a Coast Guard license, and a Navy commission, with a full year at sea aboard working U.S.-flag merchant vessels.”
The United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), often called "Kings Point," is one of the five federal service academies of the United States and the only one that trains officers for both the U.S. Armed Forces and the U.S. Merchant Marine. Located on an 82-acre waterfront campus on the North Shore of Long Island — the former Walter P. Chrysler estate, about 20 miles east of Manhattan — USMMA was dedicated in 1943 and operates under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration. Its motto, "Acta Non Verba" ("Deeds Not Words"), reflects the rigorous, regimental life of its roughly 1,000 Midshipmen, who wear uniforms daily, live under a strict honor code, and graduate with three credentials at once: a Bachelor of Science degree, a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer License, and an officer's commission (typically as Ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve). What makes Kings Point unique among the service academies is the Sea Year — a mandatory shipboard training period totaling roughly 300 days at sea spread across the sophomore and junior years. Midshipmen are assigned to commercial U.S.-flag vessels, military sealift ships, and passenger vessels, sailing global trade routes as deck or engineering cadets while continuing structured coursework via the Sea Project. No other federal service academy embeds students this deeply in the operating maritime industry. Academically, USMMA offers five undergraduate majors, all leading to a USCG license: Marine Transportation, Maritime Logistics & Security, Marine Engineering, Marine Engineering Systems, and Marine Engineering & Shipyard Management — the latter two ABET-accredited under the Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering criteria. In return for a fully federally funded education, every USMMA graduate incurs a service obligation: either five years of active-duty military service, or five years working in U.S. maritime industry combined with eight years of commissioned service in a reserve component (most commonly the U.S. Navy Reserve Strategic Sealift Officer Program). Outcomes are strong — virtually 100% of graduates are employed within six months, the Academy is consistently ranked a top public regional college by U.S. News, and its alumni network spans shipping, energy, defense, federal service, and commercial aviation.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Colleges North
US News Best Colleges 2026
Top Public Schools — Regional Colleges North
US News Best Colleges 2026
Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs (no doctorate offered)
US News Best Colleges 2026
Top Performers on Social Mobility — Regional Colleges North
US News Best Colleges 2026
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceU.S. Applicants — Final Application Deadline
Class of 2030 deadline. Earlier submission strongly preferred — evaluations are rolling and competitive nominations close earlier with each Member of Congress.
International Applicants — Final Application Deadline
International candidates must additionally be approved by their home government and endorsed by the U.S. Department of State (or Interior). Limited slots, specifically authorized by Congress.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
$0
/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
—
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Houses the three engineering majors that prepare Midshipmen for the U.S. Coast Guard Third Assistant Engineer license. Two of its degrees — Marine Engineering Systems and Marine Engineering & Shipyard Management — are ABET-accredited under the Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering program criteria.
The 'deck' department, focused on navigation, ship handling, cargo operations, and maritime business management. Graduates qualify for the USCG Third Mate license and serve as deck officers on U.S.-flag commercial vessels.
An interdisciplinary major combining nautical science with intermodal logistics, supply-chain management, and maritime security. Designed for Midshipmen interested in shoreside roles in shipping, port operations, and federal maritime security after their sea-year obligation.
Administers the signature Sea Year program — roughly 300 days at sea over the sophomore and junior years, aboard U.S.-flag commercial, military sealift, and passenger vessels. Midshipmen complete the Sea Project coursework while standing watches as deck or engineering cadets.
Provides the academic core (mathematics, physics, chemistry, English, history, naval science, leadership) that underpins every USMMA major and prepares Midshipmen for the technical and leadership demands of officer service.
4 years
ABET-accredited under the Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering criteria. Combines mechanical, electrical, and naval-architecture coursework with hands-on shipboard engineering during Sea Year. Graduates qualify for the USCG Third Assistant Engineer license and an officer commission.
4 years
The classic 'deck officer' major: navigation, ship handling, cargo, maritime law, and business. Combined with Sea Year, prepares Midshipmen to sit for the USCG Third Mate license and serve aboard U.S.-flag commercial vessels.
4 years
A newer major that pairs nautical science and a deck license with logistics, supply-chain analytics, and maritime security. Strong fit for Midshipmen targeting shoreside careers in shipping companies, ports, MARAD, the Coast Guard, or DHS.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $895
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
