The United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point has again earned recognition as one of the Best Colleges for 2024 in the annual ranking by educational services company, Princeton Review.
The inclusion in this select list represents 15% of four-year colleges and universities across the United States.
Princeton Review, an independent entity not affiliated with Princeton University, provides detailed profiles of the chosen colleges, offering insights into admission requirements, enrollment statistics, acceptance rates and student demographics. Feedback from surveyed students showed their perspectives on various aspects of campus life from professors to dining options.
The profiles also feature the company’s own The Princeton Review’s “Inside World” assessment, including ratings on a scale of 60 to 99 in eight categories, encompassing areas such as Financial Aid and Admissions Selectivity.
Vice Admiral Joanna M. Nunan, superintendent of USMMA, expressed her satisfaction at the academy’s recurring recognition.
“I am pleased to see that the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has been selected among the Princeton Review’s list of Best Colleges again this year,” she said. “I am very proud of USMMA’s dedicated faculty, staff, and students, who work so hard to keep Kings Point on this list year after year.”
USMMA’s distinction extends to being featured in Princeton Review’s Best Northeastern category, which spotlights the top 150 colleges within the northeastern region of the United States.
Upon graduation from USMMA, students earn a Bachelor of Science Degree, alongside an Officer’s Commission in the U.S. military and a United States Coast Guard Merchant Marine Officer License. This qualification ensures a steady supply of skilled merchant marine officers to support the nation’s economic and security interests.
In exchange for their education, graduates of Kings Point commit to either five years of active duty in the U.S. military or five years of service in the maritime industry, followed by eight years as officers in any branch of the reserves.
The academy is historic, with former President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicating the academy, which was established under the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1943. It is administered by the Maritime Administration under the auspices of the Department of Transportation.
