Admissions

Maine Maritime Academy seeks academically qualified and motivated students interested in earning a bachelor’s degree in Marine Engineering Operations, Marine Engineering Technology, Marine Systems Engineering, Marine Transportation Operations, Vessel Operations and Technology, Power Engineering Operations, Power Engineering Technology, Oceanography, Marine Biology, Coastal and Marine Environmental Science, International Business and Logistics, Interdisciplinary Studies; or an associate’s degree in Small Craft Design, Small Craft Systems, or Small Vessel Operations. Applicants shall demonstrate ability and potential through their academic transcripts, extracurricular activities or work recommendations, and standardized tests.

MMA offers Early Action (EA) admissions for applicants who submit all application materials by November 30 and will be notified of the application decision by February 1.

Regular Decision application materials must be submitted by March 1 and applicants will be notified of the application decision by April 1.

Applicants requesting Spring enrollment should complete the Early Action Common Application. Once submitted they should send a request to the Director of Admissions requesting consideration. Spring enrollment is generally difficult, however it is possible.

MMA offers their application via the Common Application and the application will be available August 1. Visit the Admissions site at www.mainemaritime.edu to apply. There is a $50 application fee.

As early as possible after the initial submission of the completed Common Application form, the following items must be forwarded to the Director of Admissions:

A high school transcript including courses scheduled for the senior year (for those applying as a First Time Freshman). Applicants who have attended another post-secondary institution please refer to the Transfer Student section.
A letter of recommendation from your guidance/college counselor or another high school official.
OPTIONAL: Results of either the College Entrance Examination Board SAT or the American College Testing Program (ACT). MMA will superscore across multiple tests and both SAT’s and ACT’s.

Minimum academic requirements for undergraduate admissions consideration include:

MMA Major	English & Composition	Algebra I & II	Geometry	Advanced Math	Lab Biology, Chemistry, Physics	Foreign Language
Coastal and Marine Environmental Science	4 (years)	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
International Business & Logistics	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
Interdisciplinary Studies	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
Marine Biology	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
Marine Engineering Operations	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3
Marine Engineering Technology	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3 (Physics preferred)	2 desired
Marine Systems Engineering	4	2	1	1**	2 of 3 (Physics preferred)	2 desired
Marine Transportation Operations	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
Oceanography	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3	2 desired
Power Engineering Operations	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3
Power Engineering Technology	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3 (Physics preferred)	2 desired
Small Craft Design	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3
Small Craft Systems	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3
Small Vessel Operations	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3
Vessel Operations & Technology	4	2	1	1*	2 of 3

* Advanced Math – Trigonometry, Functions/Trigonometry (FST), Precalculus, or Calculus. Statistics is not considered.
** Marine Systems Engineering requires pre-calculus or calculus.

Offer of Admission

All offers of admissions are extended with the understanding that records of academic achievement and personal conduct will remain at least at the same level as when the application for admission was reviewed. Maine Maritime Academy reserves the right to rescind any offer of admission if it is determined that subsequent academic performance and/or personal behavior are deemed substandard or unacceptable.

Waitlist Policy

Maine Maritime Academy strives to meet its academic enrollment goals each year. The college’s Office of Admissions acts on applications on a rolling basis until the goals for enrollment are met for the selected academic major or for the entire incoming class.

The college maintains a waitlist for those candidates who meet admission criteria, yet apply or deposit after program or enrollment capacity has been met. These candidates may:

defer their application to the succeeding fall, or
complete their application to determine acceptability to a waitlist for the coming fall, or
request to change to another major that is still accepting applications.

In the event that the yield falls short of projections, Maine Maritime Academy will select students from the waitlist to fill vacancies in the academic program or incoming class. For more information, visit https://mainemaritime.edu/admissions/undergraduate-admissions/waitlist-faq/.

Fraudulent Reporting

Applicants must provide accurate and complete information on all application documents. Intentional omission or falsification of information during the application process will result in the immediate rejection of the application. Application misrepresentation includes, but is not limited to: (1) false, omitted, or misleading information on the application, medical or immunization forms or financial aid disclosures, (2) fake, forged, or altered transcripts, standardized test scores, or letters of recommendation.

Interview

Interviews are NOT part of the application process. The Admissions Office offers multiple types of visiting opportunities which include an overview presentation by an Admissions Counselor. These visits are offered most weekdays throughout the year. Please refer to the online Admissions Calendar for availability and to schedule. Maine Maritime Academy reserves the right to solicit confidential opinions from secondary school officials concerning a student’s potential for success at MMA, both in the classroom and in our unique social environment.

Visiting

A visit to the Academy is strongly encouraged. Appointments to visit should be scheduled well in advance.

Admissions offers two Open Houses each year, one during the Fall semester and one in the Spring. You can register for Open Houses and all visits online.

Transfer Students

Transfer students will be considered for advanced standing on the quality of their credentials. Applicants must present an official transcript of work completed at accredited colleges or universities; only courses with grades of C or better will be considered for transfer. The amount of transfer credit awarded will depend on the application of the courses to MMA’s curriculum and will be evaluated by the Admissions and Registrar’s Offices.

As early as possible after the initial submission of the Common Application Transfer form, the following items must be forwarded to the Director of Admissions: a high school transcript which includes graduation date (or GED), an official transcript which includes any current courses in progress at any post-secondary institutions attended, at least one letter of recommendation from a college professor or school official, official SAT or ACT scores, and a resume. Maine Maritime Academy reserves the right to solicit confidential opinions from school officials concerning a student’s potential for success at MMA, both in the classroom and in our unique social environment.

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. Students who have been disenrolled for academic or resigned for reasons other than improper conduct or pending disciplinary action shall be provided an opportunity to apply for admission at MMA. Along with all materials needed as a transfer student, they must also submit a letter from their previous Commandant staff, addressing their conduct (they left in good standing) and should provide copies of all shipboard training, STCW competencies and any other pertinent information.

Please note that it may not be possible to satisfy the unique academic requirements of the bachelor of science program in less than three years at Maine Maritime Academy. Transfer students are urged to email the Director of Admissions to discuss their specific situation.

Because of scheduling and prerequisite requirements, Maine Maritime Academy cannot guarantee transfer students that all courses will be available in the sequence desired for graduation in an accelerated (less than 4 years) program. Every effort will be made to accommodate transfer students, but first priority in scheduling courses will be for the standard 4 year BS degree. See the Academic Policies section for Priority for Course Registration.

For more information on transferring credits, see the Degree Requirements information in the Academic Program section.

International Applicants

In addition to completing the Maine Maritime Academy application, international students must have all non-U.S. diplomas, certificates, licenses, and transcripts evaluated by an approved clearinghouse. This clearinghouse verifies international transcripts for:

authenticity
grade and course equivalency
transfer credits awarded

Maine Maritime Academy recognizes the members of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://naces.org/members.html) for international transcript evaluation services.

An application for evaluation is available through their respective on-line service. This service does require a fee. The fee varies depending on which service you choose and what type of evaluation you request. Maine Maritime Academy requests prospective international students do an undergraduate course-by-course breakdown of credits, a calculation of credit hours, and a verification of authenticity.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) http://www.ets.org/toefl or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) http://www.ielts.org/ is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English. An email request may be submitted to the Director of Admissions for written approval to use SAT or ACT scores in place of the TOEFL or IELTS.

Minimum TOEFL score required for admissions consideration: 550 on the paper-based test (PBT), 215 on the computer-based test (CBT), or an 80 on the internet-based test (IBT).

In lieu of the TOEFL, a student may submit the IELTS. Only the academic format is acceptable and a minimum score of 6.5 is required.

The TOEFL/IELTS requirement may be waived if the applicant is currently enrolled in full-time studies in the United States and will have completed two academic years of coursework in the United States immediately prior to enrolling at Maine Maritime Academy. These students must submit either SAT or ACT scores.

The TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived for non-native English-speaking applicants who have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an institution where English is the language of instruction. These students must submit either SAT or ACT scores.

International applicants must certify that sufficient funding is available to cover MMA fees, books, supplies, tuition and living expenses for the entire duration of their enrollment. International students must complete and submit the Financial Statement of Ability to Pay form found on their admissions portal. Unfortunately, international students are ineligible for any form of federal financial assistance while enrolled, however they are eligible for institutional merit aid.

Advanced Placement, CLEP and JST

The college grants credit for appropriate courses through the Advanced Placement Examination of the College Entrance Examination Board. Transfer credit may also be obtained through the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) and the Joint Service Transcript (JST) system. Only official documentation will be used for credit evaluation.

Certified Birth Certificates

Prior to arriving on campus, enrolling students may submit a certified copy of their birth certificates with raised seal. This may be obtained from the town or city clerk of birthplace or from the respective state division of vital statistics. Birth certificates will be kept in the student’s academic file in the Registrar’s Office. They are used throughout the student’s time at MMA for licensing, certificates, the TWIC process and for passport renewals. They are returned to the students after graduation upon request.

Social Security Number

Maine Maritime Academy is committed to ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of student records and will not disclose the Social Security Number (SSN) for any purpose without the expressed written consent of the student, except as mandated by law.

Applicants are not required to include their Social Security Number on the application for admission but will be asked to provide their social security number after enrolling for student tax-related forms. A delay in providing the number could delay (1) verifying student records, (2) identifying the student for purpose of financial aid eligibility, disbursement of financial aid loans, and other debts payable to the institution, (3) compliance with state and federal reporting requirements, (4) U.S. Coast Guard licensing, (5) background checks for security sensitive cooperatives, and (6) citizenship-related documents. Students can upload a copy of their Social Security Card to their admissions portal.

Physical Examination

A physical examination is required for all regardless of major. Paper copies of the Medical Evaluation & Physical Examination Form are found in the students deposited student packet. The examination should be conducted by the applicant’s family physician, and the completed medical forms returned by the physician to the Director of Admissions. These results will be reviewed initially by the College’s medical staff.

Immunization

A paper copy of the Immunization Form will also be contained in the student’s deposited student packet. Questions regarding exemptions can be directed to the Student Health Services Department or the Director of Admissions.

Criminal History

The Common Application will ask all prospective students to supply disciplinary and criminal history information. Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any education institution you have attended from the 9^th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor or felony? These questions will not be used in the evaluation process of the applicant. With strict licensing requirements and certifications in all majors, detailed information will allow Maine Maritime Academy to assist prospective students early in the admissions process to ensure they can meet all curriculum, license, certification requirements and will be able to find relevant employment after graduation.

More information can be found at https://www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/security-check/ and any questions can be sent to the Director of Admissions.

Personal Computing Requirement

All entering students are required to bring a laptop computer. Prior to enrolling, students will be provided with information regarding the specifications for their computers and any purchase/lease plans that may be available. The Cost of Attendance for Maine Maritime Academy does include a Laptop fee, however you are not required to buy a laptop from MMA or purchase a new laptop if your current laptop meets the specifications.

Applicants for US Coast Guard License

Applicants for the US Coast Guard unlimited license program as a Third Mate or Third Assistant Engineer must meet the requirements governing physical condition, citizenship, and prior preparation. These requirements cannot be waived unless special permission is obtained from the appropriate federal office or agency.

Except by special condition, applicants desiring a US Coast Guard license must meet the following requirements:

A student must be a high school graduate or must have earned an equivalency certificate.
A student must be a citizen of the United States.
Applicants must meet the physical requirements established by the United States Coast Guard for an unrestricted license as a ship’s officer. They are as follows

Height: no limitation prescribed
Weight: proportional to height and age

Vision/Mate: For an original license as mate, the applicant must have correctable vision to at least 20/40 in each eye, and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in each eye. The color sense must be determined to be satisfactory when tested by any of the following methods:

Pseudoisochromatic Plates (Dvorine, 2nd edition: AOC; revised edition or AOC-ERR; Ishihara 16-, 24-, or 38- plate editions)
Eldridge-Green Color Perception Lantern
Farnsworth Lantern
Keystone Orthoscope
Keystone Telebinocular
SAMCTT (School of Aviation Medicine Color Threshold Tester)
Titmus Optical Vision Tester
Williams Lantern

Vision/Engineer: For an original license as engineer, the applicant must have correctable vision of at least 20/50 in each eye and uncorrected vision of at least 20/200 in each eye. Applicants need only to have the ability to distinguish the colors red, green, blue, and yellow. A waiver will be required for those students seeking a USCG license whose vision is between 20/200 and 20/800. Questions concerning the waiver process should be directed to the Academy’s Director of Health Services at (207-326-2295, or ext. 2295).

General Health: Applicants for the license programs must be free of any disease or constitutional defect that would compromise shipboard safety while at sea. Contact the Academy’s Student Health Services Office for clarification of specific disorders that may disqualify a student from a license program.

Applicants who applied for an NROTC scholarship or for admission to a service academy may request the Department of Defense Medical Review Board to forward a copy of their complete physical examination report to Maine Maritime Academy. The student should advise the Maine Maritime Academy Admissions Office that a physical report will be forwarded. In rare cases, candidates accepted for NROTC scholarships may not be fully qualified for the maritime license program.

An applicant accepted into a USCG license program will be required to complete another physical examination on campus during his/her senior year prior to taking the USCG exam.

Drug Testing

All students enrolled in undergraduate degree programs at Maine Maritime Academy are required to participate in the random drug testing program. Maritime Academy complies with Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations 16.230 mandating periodic, random, pre-employment, post-incident, and reasonable cause drug testing for all students and employees whose position requires this testing. All students and employees, who act as part of the crew of any Academy vessel, both documented and undocumented, shall be subject to the policy. Federal law requires periodic or random drug testing of students prior to training cruises, cadet shipping, or taking of a US Coast Guard physical examination. Additionally, since drug testing and “zero-tolerance” policies have become a fact of life in the industries in which most of our students will be working, as co-op students and as employees, it is the Academy’s policy that any student pursuing an Academy Cooperative Education Experience (COOP) must participate in the random and pre-employment drug testing program. Additionally, any students who are in a disciplinary status for any violation of our drug or drug testing policies may be subject to increased random drug testing.

Readmission Policy

When considering a return to Maine Maritime Academy, it is important to understand that former students may have a difficult time gaining readmission. Our stringent academic requirements, specialized training and enrollment limits cause scheduling issues that impact many areas, including the advancement of enrolled students who are successfully progressing through their program of study.

Your resignation or failure to meet established academic or disciplinary standards has raised serious concerns as to your ability to complete MMA’s rigorous program. Even if you complete all the requirements for readmission, you may not be the strongest candidate competing for a vacancy within your major. Admission authorized by the Academic Board will be subject to space availability in the class for which admission is sought.

Favorable consideration will be based upon evaluation of the reasons for previous separation, evidence of improved academic standing, improved conduct, and increased personal maturity and willingness to accept responsibility for one’s actions.

All former students who have resigned, been disenrolled, or not been enrolled for two consecutive academic semesters, and who wish to apply for readmission, must submit an on-line application for readmission to the Director of Admissions. The application will be considered by the Readmission Board which will recommend decisions to the Provost. Further information about the readmission process is available from the Provost’s office or the Admissions office.

Students may be readmitted at the start of the fall semester, the spring semester, annual training cruise, cadet shipping, or cooperative education; however, a student planning to re-enter for a summer program may need to meet prerequisites and attend training sessions on campus and thus should consult with the office overseeing the summer program regarding such requirements. An application for readmission and all supporting documents (see below) must be received by MMA Admissions Office by the following dates for consideration:

Fall semester – May 1
Spring semester/Summer term – October 15

The application must be accompanied by such additional information as required by the Director of Admissions to establish justification for favorable consideration. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure all required items are received by the Office of Admissions by the close of business EST by the deadline.

Applying for readmission requires:

a completed application for readmission prior to the deadlines stated above;
a letter of intent noting why you wish to return to Maine Maritime Academy and a brief description of what you’ve been doing since you left;
a typed resume to include a description of what you have done during your absence. Include, for example, employment, schools attended, courses taken;
Two (2) letters of recommendation from a current or recent faculty member or employer; *
an official transcript from each school attended since last enrolled at MMA;
confirmation from MMA’s Business office that you are in satisfactory financial standing with the Academy.

NOTE: Disciplinary suspensions may need to provide additional documentation as outlined in their suspension letter.

Forward all materials to:
Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management
Maine Maritime Academy
Leavitt Hall
Castine, ME 04420

* These items must be submitted directly to the Admissions Office by the person writing the letter of recommendation, must be on letterhead, and can be emailed to admissions@mma.edu. The letters cannot be forwarded by the applicant.

Students seeking readmission will be required to participate in a Zoom call with the Readmission Board at the time the application is reviewed. Once the application is complete, the Admissions Office will contact you with specific arrangements concerning your conference call.

Special Circumstances

Students seeking readmission who wish to change their major may indicate the desired new major on the application for readmission. Approval of major change will be considered on a space available basis. If approved, this procedure eliminates the need for the student to complete a Change of Major request after enrollment.
Students who have attended other institutions of higher learning since their last enrollment at MMA must have an official transcript from each institution attended submitted directly to the Director of Admissions. These transcripts must be received and satisfactory performance must be indicated before approval for registration will be granted. Failure to report any schools attended will result in your application not being accepted. In cases where the courses are in progress and transcripts will not be available in time, a progress report from the course instructor(s) must be submitted. If readmitted, a student may request a transcript review to determine whether courses completed at other institutions can be transferred to MMA.
Students who have been suspended as a consequence of disciplinary infractions may only be considered for readmission after a period of documented exemplary good conduct. A student who has withdrawn with judicial action pending must resolve the disciplinary issue prior to applying for readmission.
Students who have been disenrolled for academic failure will be considered only upon evidence of improved academic potential.
Students who resign from the Maine Maritime Academy/Bath Iron Works Associate Degree programs are not subject to this policy and should consult their agreement regarding readmission.

MMA will try to meet the returning students’ course selection requests. However, pre-registration by currently enrolled students may result in desired courses being at capacity. Maine Maritime Academy cannot guarantee on-campus housing for readmitted students.

Upon Readmission

A $250 enrollment deposit is required of all returning students to reserve their position in the class. Failure to submit the deposit by the appropriate date may result in loss of place.

All students must submit an updated medical evaluation and physical examination form to the Director of Admissions. Depending on how long you have been out of school, you may be required to have additional immunizations. Should you have additional questions regarding your immunizations, e-mail HealthServices@mma.edu. You must satisfy all medical and immunization requirements prior to registration.

Readmission Board

Applications for readmission by students who have been disenrolled for academic reasons, resigned, took an extended medical leave, or were involuntarily withdrawn are reviewed by the Readmission Board which is generally composed of members of the Academic Board. Several staff serve in ex-officio roles on the board, such as a the Director of Residence Life and Student Activities. The Dean of Faculty serves as chair.

Applications for readmission by students who were suspended for judicial reasons are reviewed by a subset of the Readmission Board, called the Judicial Readmission Board, composed of:

Dean of Student Services (serves as chair)
Commandant
Student-Athlete Affairs Coordinator
Department Chair (of student being heard)
Dean of Faculty

The College Counselor attends the hearings as an ex-officio member.

Leave of Absence

Students may be granted a leave of absence (LOA) for financial or personal reasons not related to academic or disciplinary issues. A leave of absence for a specific period of time — not to exceed one year — will be granted by the Registrar upon the endorsement of the Dean of Faculty and, for Regimental students, the Commandant of Midshipmen. A LOA for medical reasons will require clearance from health services or counseling as part of the readmissions application process.

Requests to return from a leave of absence can be made through the Director of Admissions by completing the Application for Readmission.

Students may return to MMA at the start of the fall semester, the spring semester, annual training cruise, cadet shipping, or cooperative education. The request to return must be completed by the following dates for consideration:

Fall semester – July 1
Spring semester/Summer term – October 15

Returning students who have successfully completed the readmission process must register with the Registrar’s office. In order to do so, they must be accepted, pay their deposit, and have contacted all necessary offices on campus prior to their return. The following dates apply:

Students returning for the Fall term can register in July. After August 1 a $100 Late Registration Fee will apply.
Students returning for the Spring term can register between December 1 and December 10. After December 10 a $100 Late Registration Fee will apply.

Maine Maritime Academy

A COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, MANAGEMENT, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

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