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Port engineer education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a port engineer. Port engineers usually study marine engineering, engineering, or mechanical engineering. 64% of port engineers hold a bachelor's degree, and 13% hold an high school diploma. We analyzed 390 real port engineer resumes to see exactly what port engineer education sections show.
The most common colleges for port engineers are the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
There are also many online port engineer courses to help get the education required to be a port engineer.
What education do you need to become a port engineer?
What degree do you need to be a port engineer?
- Bachelor's, 64%
- High School Diploma, 13%
- Associate, 11%
- Master's, 8%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become a port engineer?
- Marine Engineering, 16%
- Engineering, 16%
- Business, 6%
- Other Majors, 49%
Most common colleges for port engineers
| Port engineer common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy | 16.39% |
| United States Merchant Marine Academy | 14.75% |
| United States Coast Guard Academy | 8.20% |
| New York University | 6.56% |
| Texas A&M University | 6.56% |
Best majors for port engineers
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marine Engineering | 16.1% |
| 2 | Engineering | 16.1% |
| 3 | Mechanical Engineering | 12.8% |
| 4 | Business | 6.0% |
| 5 | Computer Science | 6.0% |
Best colleges for port engineers
The best colleges for port engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and Stevens Institute of Technology.
A port engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for port engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become port engineers.
1. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Enrollment
30,079
2. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
In-state tuition
$13,478
Enrollment
979
3. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
In-state tuition
$52,202
Enrollment
3,420
4. SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,283
Enrollment
1,581
5. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Enrollment
27,730
20 best online courses for port engineers
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Top 10 most affordable universities for port engineers
The most affordable schools for port engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, suny maritime college, and maine maritime academy.
If the best universities for port engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for port engineers.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$1,080
Cost of attendance
6,646
2. SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,283
Cost of attendance
25,308
3. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
In-state tuition
$13,478
Cost of attendance
26,962
4. University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA • Private
In-state tuition
$8,771
Cost of attendance
19,331
5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
In-state tuition
$15,262
Cost of attendance
29,407
6. University of Alaska Anchorage
Anchorage, AK • Private
In-state tuition
$8,580
Cost of attendance
19,942
7. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$9,728
Cost of attendance
25,659
8. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
In-state tuition
$13,620
Cost of attendance
26,240
9. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
In-state tuition
$11,870
Cost of attendance
28,314
10. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
In-state tuition
$52,202
Cost of attendance
66,642
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for port engineers
The hardest universities for port engineers to get into are United States Merchant Marine Academy, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, and Stevens Institute of Technology.
Some great schools for port engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for port engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,296
2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
3. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,412
4. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
Admissions rate
55%
SAT average
1,104
5. SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,176
6. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,293
7. University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions rate
57%
SAT average
1,136
8. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,127
9. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,291
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for port engineers
The easiest schools for port engineers to get into are SUNY Maritime College, maine maritime academy, and massachusetts maritime academy.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a port engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for port engineers.
1. SUNY Maritime College
Throggs Neck, NY • Private
Admissions rate
72%
SAT average
1,176
2. Maine Maritime Academy
Castine, ME • Private
Admissions rate
55%
SAT average
1,104
3. Massachusetts Maritime Academy
Buzzards Bay, MA • Private
Admissions rate
89%
SAT average
1,127
4. University of New Orleans
New Orleans, LA • Private
Admissions rate
57%
SAT average
1,136
5. United States Merchant Marine Academy
Kings Point, NY • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,296
6. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA • Private
Admissions rate
65%
SAT average
1,293
7. Texas A&M University
College Station, TX • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,291
8. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,434
9. Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
41%
SAT average
1,412
Average port engineer salary by education level
| Port engineer education level | Port engineer salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $118,620 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $100,251 |
| Doctorate Degree | $137,130 |
Port engineer education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common architecture and engineering questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025