I know a few people that have gone to Maritime and they are making BANK and I mean SERIOUS $ while globe trotting around the world like kings. After their first or second trip they have banked enough $ to payoff ALL their loans (college/student, cars, etc) and live worry free for a few months straight while not out at sea. They all say the same thing, right out of college they are making more money than ALL of their friends (including the ones that went to Ivy league schools) as well as many of their friend's parents too. My cousin, a SUNY Maritime marine transportation 2016 grad has been around the world probably 5 or more times already, partied in most everywhere in Europe, the USA and Australia, made friends around the globe, and has over $300K in the bank. He also just finished his classes and took his test for 1st mate and captain's USCGA unlimited tonage license. He said he is doing 1 or 2 more cruises and then taking a landside job with his shipping company (they offered him starting pay of $185K). Another person I know, sails throughout most of the spring and summer, then spends his winters at different ski towns where he skis all day and works as a bar tender at night. He only works a bar tender, not because he needs the money, but to meet new people and have fun. So far he has wintered at Vail, Aspen, a resort in BC Canada, Courchevel and Val d'Isere (France), Cortina (Italy) and Kitzbuhel (Austria). They all say the same thing...the point is you can do this stuff while you are young and really enjoy it while not being broke before settling down. The other USMMA grads are just coming off their commitment while they have done all this. I don't know any other people that are 27 or 28 years old that have had the experiences these two have had. The overall point here, there is a massive multi trillion $ global shipping industry with hundreds of thousands landside jobs and tens of thousands seaside jobs... and guess what... the grads from the Maritime schools as well as USMMA, USCGA and US Navy SSMP are pretty much the ONLY places that provide access to these positions. I looked long and hard at USMMA and the Maritimes, but life at sea wasn't me. You really gotta talk to as many people as possible. Just my 2 cents on USMMA and USCGA.