Maine Maritime Academy vs University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA)
Maine Maritime Academy and University of South Carolina Aiken stand as distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. Maine Maritime Academy, a public college in Castine, Maine, boasts a 90% acceptance rate and a student body of around 900, predominantly comprising male students. In contrast, University of South Carolina Aiken, a public university in Aiken, South Carolina, welcomes a more diverse student body of over 3,000, with a higher acceptance rate of 98%. While Maine Maritime Academy focuses primarily on maritime studies, engineering, and transportation, University of South Carolina Aiken offers a broader range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like business, education, and nursing. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover further distinctions between these two institutions, and make an informed decision about which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Maine Maritime Academy |
![]() University of South Carolina Aiken |
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Overview |
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Location | Castine, Maine | Aiken, South Carolina |
Campus setting | Rural: Distant | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 59.0% |
![]() |
Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 57.7% | 83.5% |
Application fees | $50 |
Undergraduate:
$45
Graduate:
$45
|
SAT range | N/A | 960 - 1170 |
ACT range | N/A | 16 - 23 |
Students submitting SAT score | 43.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 29.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 1,109 | 1,808 |
Total number of admissions given out | 640 | 1,510 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 207 | 526 |
Yield rate | 32.3% | 34.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$29,248
Out of state:
$44,168
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In state:
$24,928
Out of state:
$35,386
|
Average net price | $21,421 | $12,514 |
Tuition |
In state:
$11,250
Out of state:
$26,170
|
In state:
$10,398
Out of state:
$20,856
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Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$4,360
Meal plan:
$6,550
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,316
Meal plan:
$2,886
|
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
66.0%
Average amount $8,047 |
95.0%
Average amount $7,746 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
90.0%
Average amount $5,483 |
50.0%
Average amount $4,789 |
Students taking out private loans |
33.0%
Average amount $20,112 |
4.0%
Average amount $8,017 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
871
Men 81.6% Women 18.4% |
3,101
Men 35.0% Women 65.0% |
Graduate students |
17
Men 70.6% Women 29.4% |
768
Men 33.5% Women 66.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Very Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 8.8% |
International students | 0.6% | 1.9% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Distant | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 652 | 986 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | South Carolina Georgia North Carolina Florida Maryland |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 16:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 72.5% | 42.9% |
Dropout rate | 24.2% | 15.6% |
Transferred out | 3.4% | 38.6% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Marine Transportation (Bachelor's Degrees)
Systems Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
International Business (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other (Master's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Sociology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Health and Physical Education/Fitness (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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