The actual Cost of Attendance (COA) at MMA is unique for each student (where they are from, their major, etc.). The Cost of Attendance has two different types of costs – Direct Costs and Indirect Costs. When they are added together, that is your student’s COA.

Direct Costs – These are the fees that you have to pay. These include tuition, room and board (meals), general fees, licensing fees (for those in an unlimited license program), and Regiment uniforms and items (unlimited license programs only).

Indirect Costs – These are variable fees and may or may not be applicable to your student. An example is the laptop fee – if your student already has a laptop that meets the necessary standard (e.g. operating system, memory, etc.), the laptop fee can be removed from your student’s bill. Additionally, the cost of books may be lower or higher based on your student’s classes, while travel to and from home and personal/miscellaneous expenses can also vary in amount.

2021-2022 Maine Maritime Cost of Attendance

Cost & Budget Worksheet

The COA at MMA is based upon an entire year (Fall, Spring, Summer) and includes Direct and Indirect Costs combined – there are no surprise or hidden fees – all our fees and costs are up front.

Unlike other state maritime academies, MMA’s COA includes everything, and we explain what each fee or cost covers!

When considering the financial aid offer from a particular school, or in comparing aid offers from multiple schools, you need to weigh your cost expectations against each school’s estimated total COA. The goal of this comparison is to better decide if you and/or your student can realistically manage the costs given the resources available to your family and the financial aid being offered by each school. Please visit the Financial Aid website for costs and additional information.

For tips on how to afford higher education and other useful information, please visit the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) website.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Filing the FAFSA is the first step in applying for financial aid and is a requirement for students who plan to pay for education after high school with the help of federal, state, or institutional aid such as grants, scholarships, work study, and loans.

You can complete the FAFSA anytime on or after October 1. Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free – so be sure to apply at FAFSA.gov. The priority filing deadline for Maine Maritime Academy is February 1, but you can still send in your FAFSA after this date.

Students begin receiving financial aid offers beginning in December, so keep an eye out for this important information!

Note: Even if you student are paying for your own college education, families are required to fill out the FAFSA if they plan to claim you, the student, on their taxes if you are under age 24.

If you have questions about eligibility, student status, or anything with FAFSA, please visit the FAFSA website.  Additionally, the Finance Authority of Maine (FAME) has a helpful page dedicated to all things FAFSA.

I was selected for verification. Why?

Verification is a process that requires schools to collect additional income and household information from some students. It does not mean that you did anything wrong! Check out this great video explaining verification.

If selected for Verification, complete and submit these forms:

• 2021-2022 Dependent Student Verification Worksheet
• 2021-2022 Student Income Non-Tax Filer Form
• 2021-2022 Parent Income Non-Tax Filer Form

If you are applying for the Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, you need to complete and submit the form below:

• 2021-2022 Parent PLUS Supplemental Form

There are a variety of types of financial aid available to student at MMA.

Federal and private loans must be repaid. Grants, merit awards, and scholarships do not have to be repaid.

We offer the following types of aid:

• Federal Direct Stafford Loan (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
• Parent PLUS Loan
• Student Private Alternative Education Loan
• Pell Grant and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
• State Grants
• MMA Merit Awards and Scholarships
• Federal Work Study

Please note that you may not qualify for all types of aid. For additional information, an explanation of each category, and eligibility requirements, please contact the Financial Aid office.

The Regiment of Midshipmen is a uniformed student body that fosters self-confidence, teamwork, self-discipline, honor, and integrity in young men and women.Participation in the Regiment is a federal requirement for students seeking an unlimited license in marine engineering or marine transportation but is open to all students.

If you join the Regiment, you will participate in a ten-day Regimental Preparatory Training (RPT). This challenging program prepares students for life as a Midshipmen. After completion of RPT, you will begin MUG Month.

MUG Month provides ongoing training and preparation before your induction into the full Regiment of Midshipmen. MUG stands for Midshipmen Under Guidance, and is what a student is referred to before they are inducted into the full Regiment of Midshipmen.

For more information about the Regiment, visit the Regiment section of our website.

No, the Regiment is not a military program nor is it connected to any branch of the military.

Students in the Regiment are required to wear uniforms and are split between four companies (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta), so while it looks military-like, it is not.

There are no service requirements during your time at MMA or upon graduation.

Please contact the Bookstore at 207-326-2430 to schedule your uniform fitting.

• If you are an out-of-state student, please call at the beginning of June to schedule a fitting once you arrive in Castine.
• If you are an in-state student, please make arrangements to come to campus for a fitting before the beginning of your first semester.

Please note that there is a $500 uniform deposit due at the time of fitting.

All students who are under the age of 21 must live on campus. If you and your family’s permanent address is 45 miles or less from campus and you are under the age of 21, they can live at home and commute to campus.

Unless your family plans on making that address their permanent home, you cannot live there until you are 21 or older.

If you have questions about this policy, please contact the Office of Residential Life at 207-326-2280.

Note: The Regiment of Midshipmen has additional policies for off-campus living. Please contact the Commandant’s Office at 207-326-2250 for more information about their policies

Your first college bill should be available online in mid-July and you will be able to access the information on the MyMMA. Please note that your bill must be paid, or arrangements made, no later than August.

MMA has an agreement with NELNET Campus Commerce to offer a monthly payment plan.

NELNET Campus Commerce offers a 10-month plan with equal payments due July 1 – April 1. This plan can be used to cover all MMA costs or to supplement final costs after financial aid. NELNET Campus Commerce also offers a 10-month plan in coordination with loans for those who want to lower their monthly payments.

If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact MMA’s Billing Office at 207-326-2243.

If you would like to sign up, you may do so online at the NELNET Campus Commerce website.

We encourage all parents and family members to join the Parents Association, or at least follow their Facebook page!

You can ask questions, get advice, receive important information concerning your student throughout the year, and get involved in the many events on and off-campus through the Parents Association.

This community is specifically for you and can be informative as well as supportive – just like you, they were first-time MMA parents once!

MMA’s Mailroom is often one of the busiest offices on campus! If you would like to send something to your student, please include:

Student Name
Maine Maritime Academy
Central receiving
70 Pleasant Street
Castine, ME,  04420

The Mailroom is located in the Alfond Student Center.

No, not until the Regimental Induction Ceremony in October.

The only exceptions are ‘away’ athletic contests, emergency medical appointments or care, and serious family events including major illnesses, injury, or death.

If you decide to attend events like Ship Jump or Homecoming, please be aware that you may or may not be able to talk to your students, even if you see them.

We encourage parents and families to attend the Regimental Induction Ceremony in October to see all that your student has accomplished, watch them be inducted into the full Regiment of Midshipmen, and spend time with them. At the close of the ceremony, your student can head home for a long weekend!

Transfer students will be considered for advanced standing on the quality of their credentials. Your credits must be equivalent to a grade of “C” or better from an accredited college or university. The amount of transfer credits will depend on the equivalency of the courses to MMA’s curriculum as evaluated by the Registrar.

No, transfer credits are not used in calculating the student’s GPA at Maine Maritime.

Courses from an approved military program are transferable where applicable. If you would like to have your credits reviewed, please submit a Joint Service Transcript (JST).

In accordance with federal regulations, Third Officer U.S. Coast Guard license students must be in training for a minimum of three years. Accordingly, except in unusual circumstances, transfer students or those expecting advanced placement in those majors must spend a minimum of this time in training.

Students who have been dismissed or resigned from the US Merchant Marine Academy, US Air Force Academy, US Military Academy, US Naval Academy, or a state maritime academy for improper conduct or pending disciplinary action shall not be eligible for admission to Maine Maritime Academy.

Even with transfer credits, it is usually not possible to satisfy the unique academic requirements of our Bachelor of Science programs in less than three years. Because of scheduling and prerequisite requirements, there is no guarantee that your required courses will be available, in the sequence that you need for graduation, in less than 4 years.