Toward Sustainable Enrollment

By: David Markow, Vice President of Enrollment Management, Admissions, and Financial Aid

David Markow
Vice President of Enrollment Management, Admissions, and Financial Aid

MAINE MARITIME ACADEMY is navigating an exciting moment of renewal and forward movement. Thanks to focused efforts across campus, new student interest is rising, enrollment is increasing, and retention initiatives are strengthening. On the immediate horizon, opportunities like the arrival of the new State of Maine training ship and a new Nuclear Engineering Technology program are going to further boost MMA’s visibility and appeal.

This fall, MMA enrolls 907 undergraduates in Castine, and the Academy is charting a steady path toward a healthy, sustainable enrollment of 1,100 students over the next several years, a level that supports academic vitality, athletic competitiveness, and the distinctive hands-on experience that defines an MMA education.

The incoming fall classes are continuing to grow year over year, with a pandemic low point of 230 first-year student enrollment in 2020, rising each year to a 285 first-year student enrollment in 2025.

Early outreach to Maine high schools is expanding. Out-of-state recruiting is also strengthening in key regions like Florida, Texas, Washington, the Mid-Atlantic, and New England. Digital marketing, stronger communication tools, and more personalized admissions engagement are helping convert more inquiries into enrolled Mariners.

MMA is also leaning into opportunities in an outstanding athletics program, STEM pathways, JROTC, maritime high schools, high school military academies, and other partnerships. The new training ship,
a once-in-a-generation asset, will serve as a powerful recruitment magnet for future classes drawn to maritime experiential learning.

Enrollment growth is not just about bringing students in—it is about helping them thrive. MMA is strengthening first-year support systems, academic advising, and early-alert tools, with a goal of raising first-year retention from 80% to 85% by 2029.

Enhanced student engagement through coordinated outreach through Academic Support Services, Student Early Assessment Team, medical and counseling services, student clubs and activities, and a renewed focus on the student experience are all designed to keep students on track and connected to the Academy’s tight-knit community.

Enrollment growth is not just about bringing students in—it is about helping them thrive.

A major area of focus is improving affordability. MMA is increasing endowed scholarships, sharpening aid strategies, and creating industry relationships to support direct-to-student scholarship opportunities so that more students can access an Academy education without undue financial burden.

As these investments grow, supported by MMA alumni, the Office of Advancement, and the Foundation’s efforts, MMA aims to remain competitive and to support students in realizing the value of an MMA education.

With nationally recognized hands-on learning, industry-aligned programs, championship athletics, unmatched waterfront facilities, and consistently strong post-graduate outcomes, MMA continues to offer one of the country’s best returns on investment
as identified in national publications and college websites.Alumni can take pride in knowing that today’s students are joining a community with a clear trajectory: steady growth, strengthened student success, and a vibrant future shaped by the Academy’s deeply rooted maritime heritage.

As MMA approaches its enrollment goals, the Academy remains committed to the values that generations of alumni know well; grit, professionalism, camaraderie, and an education built on real-world experience. The future is bright in Castine, and the Academy is moving toward it with purpose.

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