The California Maritime Academy is a unique member of the Cal State University system. The smallest of the campuses by far with fewer than a thousand students, Cal Maritime is also the only maritime academy on the west coast.
There are only six majors at Cal Maritime, with the latter three involve licensure by the Coast Guard:
- Business Administration (International Business and Logistics)
- Global Studies & Maritime Affairs
- Facilities Engineering Technology
- Mechanical Engineering
- Marine Engineering Technology
- Marine Transportation
Students at Cal Maritime are members of the Corps of Cadets, wearing uniforms to class and for all campus responsibilities (including meals and on-campus jobs), and are required to “fall in” three times weekly for a roll-call activity.
Cal Maritime students are extremely focused on their future careers, and the university is focused on helping students find jobs. They have the highest graduation and job placement rates in the Cal State system, with 94% of graduates finding jobs within 6 months of graduation. The school is truly a college of applied technology. Students are required to have internships during their studies, and must go abroad, either to a specific program with which Cal Maritime has a partnership, or on the Training Ship Golden Bear, Maritime’s own 500-foot vessel. Classes are very small, averaging 22 students, and the school concentrates on building leadership and global awareness, which are important in today’s international business climate.
Cal Maritime is a very residential campus; about 75% of students live on campus or on the Golden Bear.
While there is no military service directly connected to Cal Maritime, there are Air Force and Navy ROTC groups, as well as Coast Guard opportunities, all of which help pay for students’ education.
Currently Cal Maritime has about 85% male and 15% female students.