by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering covers Naval Architecture And Marine Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Self-Propelled, Stationary, Or Towed Vessels Operating On Or Under The Water, Including Inland, Coastal And Ocean Environments; And The Analysis Of Related Engineering Problems Such As Corrosion, Power Transfer, Pressure, Hull Efficiency, Stress Factors, Safety And Life Support, Environmental Hazards And Factors, And Specific Use Requirements. Read on to learn the essential details every naval architecture & marine engineering student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering naval architecture & marine engineering programs.
In the U.S., naval architecture & marine engineering is a popular field of study, with 445 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for naval architecture & marine engineering students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of naval architecture & marine engineering programs later in this article.
Programs in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations naval architecture & marine engineering graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a naval architecture & marine engineering program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a naval architecture & marine engineering major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several naval architecture & marine engineering degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 10 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 368 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 62 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
People currently working in careers related to naval architecture & marine engineering tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 36.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 11.6% |
| Master’s degree | 10.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| First professional degree | 2.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.8% |
| Some college courses | 1.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in naval architecture & marine engineering careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying naval architecture & marine engineering opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to naval architecture & marine engineering.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to naval architecture & marine engineering.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | 270,124 | 11.6% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of naval architecture & marine engineering graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $97,198 |
| 4 years | $108,264 |
| 5 years | $116,295 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for naval architecture & marine engineering graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers naval architecture & marine engineering grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $121,581 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $79,889 |
With 15 different naval architecture & marine engineering programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased naval architecture & marine engineering school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
