California State University Maritime Academy

What California State University Maritime Academy does

California State University Maritime Academy, operating as Cal Poly Maritime Academy, is a public degree-granting institution and constituent campus of the 23-campus California State University system, headquartered on the Cal Poly Solano Campus in Vallejo, California. It is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the U.S. West Coast, with roughly 90+ years of operating history and a workforce of 251–500 employees. The institution serves traditional undergraduates, transfer students, and graduate students pursuing maritime and adjacent careers, with a Corps of Cadets that provides a residential military-style leadership environment.

Its core academic offering is a portfolio of seven specialized undergraduate majors plus graduate programs in maritime transportation, naval architecture, marine engineering, global business and logistics, facilities and environmental engineering, and oceanographic science. The platform is built around a "Learn by Doing" pedagogy anchored by the 500-foot Training Ship Golden Bear, used during the multi-month Summer Sea Term for hands-on shipboard training and international port visits. Supporting infrastructure includes maritime simulators, engineering labs, waterfront training facilities, the Cal Maritime Library with its OneSearch discovery tool and curated research guides, and a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Coast Guard Licensing Program that lets graduates earn professional maritime credentials concurrent with their degree.

Revenue mechanics are those of a public university: regulated tuition and fees paid by enrolled students, combined with state appropriations through the CSU system and supplementary federal support tied to its State Maritime Academy designation under the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD). The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the centralized CSU/Cal Poly application portal, campus tours, and informational content. The institution holds a federal regulatory position (MARAD recognition, Coast Guard licensing authority) that restricts competition on the West Coast and produces a Coast Guard-licensed graduate pipeline for the U.S. maritime industry.

Name

California State University Maritime Academy

Legal name

California State University Maritime Academy

Website

https://csum.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

California State University Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the U.S. West Coast, offering seven specialized undergraduate majors, graduate programs, and Coast Guard-approved licensing within the 23-campus California State University system, headquartered in Vallejo, California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Military Schools (Aviation, Naval, Cyber, Intelligence, Medical) (EDAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Merchant Marine & Deck Operations (EDAOANAA), Naval Training, Simulation & Shore-Based Support Systems (IMABAKAO), Educational Cruises & Shipboard Learning Programs (THAKAGAM)

Keywords

• Maritime higher education
• Maritime academy training
• Coast Guard licensing programs
• Naval architecture degrees
• Marine transportation education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vallejo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public university tuition revenue from undergraduate and graduate programs. Students pay tuition for degree programs including maritime transportation, engineering, and business disciplines.
2. State Funding: California State University system state funding for public higher education operations and programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Poly Maritime Academy) is a degree-granting public university and the only maritime academy on the West Coast of the United States. It delivers undergraduate and graduate academic programs in maritime transportation, naval architecture, marine engineering, global business, and oceanographic sciences, combining classroom instruction with hands-on training aboard the 500-foot Training Ship Golden Bear during the Summer Sea Term. Students may also pursue U.S. Coast Guard licensing and participate in the Corps of Cadets, a military-style residential leadership program.

Product overview

Cal Poly Maritime Academy is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast, offering a unified educational platform combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience. The academy provides seven specialized undergraduate majors and graduate programs built around a 'Learn by Doing' approach. Key program components include the Summer Sea Term aboard Training Ship Golden Bear (a 500-foot vessel), the Coast Guard Licensing Program, and Corps of Cadets military-style leadership training. Supporting infrastructure includes the Cal Maritime Library with its OneSearch discovery tool and specialized research guides for various academic subjects, along with professional exam preparation resources for certifications including LEED, NCEES Engineering, Project Management Professional, and Certified Automation Professional.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Training Ship Golden Bear: 500-foot training ship used for Summer Sea Term voyages providing hands-on maritime training experience
• Corps of Cadets
• Cal Maritime Library

Quantifiable outcome

• Students graduate with U.S. Coast Guard licensing qualifications for maritime officer careers

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• California State University SystemcoreOthersCal Maritime is a constituent campus of the California State University (CSU) system, operating under the governance and administrative framework of CSU. The academy integrates with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo while maintaining its distinct maritime focus.
• U.S. Maritime AdministrationcoreOthersThe academy operates under the federal Maritime Administration (MARAD) program, providing students access to training ship facilities and supporting the national maritime workforce pipeline. MARAD supports state maritime academies with funding and resources.
• U.S. Coast GuardcoreOthersThe academy's Coast Guard Licensing Program is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, allowing graduates to earn professional maritime licenses. The Coast Guard sets standards for maritime education and credentials.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SUNY Maritime College: Another state maritime academy under the SUNY system offering USCG-licensed degree programs, a regimented Corps of Cadets, and summer sea-term training cruises; directly comparable in mission, programs, and federal MARAD designation.
• Great Lakes Maritime Academy (Northwestern Michigan College): State maritime academy focused on Great Lakes/oceans mariner training, offering USCG-credentialed degree programs and sea-time requirements; comparable in federal MARAD recognition and Coast Guard licensing pathway but smaller in scope.
• United States Merchant Marine Academy (Kings Point): Federally operated service academy producing licensed merchant marine officers; comparable curriculum (marine engineering, transportation, naval architecture) and licensing outcomes under MARAD oversight, the federal counterpart to Cal Maritime's state academy model.
• Massachusetts Maritime Academy: A Massachusetts state maritime academy offering USCG-licensed undergraduate programs, a Regiment of Cadets, and required sea-term training on its own training ship; closest comparable peer in scale, program mix, and governance structure.
• Maine Maritime Academy: Independent (non-CSU-system) state maritime academy in Castine, Maine offering marine engineering, marine transportation, and international business programs with USCG licensing and a co-op/sea-time model similar to Cal Maritime.
• Texas A&M Maritime Academy at Galveston: Another state maritime academy producing licensed officers, embedded within the Texas A&M system with sea-term training; overlaps with Cal Maritime on curriculum, regulatory accreditation, and cadet structure.

Broad incumbents

• MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering): Top-tier university program with naval architecture, marine engineering, and ocean engineering graduate tracks; overlapping subject matter at a research-intensive institution rather than a licensing-focused academy model.
• United States Naval Academy (Annapolis): Federal military service academy with naval, marine, and engineering programs; broader, military-commissioning focused but overlaps in leadership development, marine engineering training, and accession pathways for maritime careers.
• California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly SLO): Parent integrating institution with Learn-by-Doing philosophy, engineering, business, and agricultural programs; while not maritime-focused, it shares the Cal Poly brand, governance ties, and admissions infrastructure leveraged by Cal Maritime.

Emerging players

• Webb Institute: Small, private four-year college specializing in naval architecture and marine engineering; comparable niche specialized education in marine engineering disciplines, though narrower in scope (no licensing program or sea-term cruises).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cal_maritime

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California State University Maritime Academy