Graduates of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy earned more than their counterparts at the state’s other public colleges and universities, according to a new study.
A report released earlier this month from the state’s Department of Higher Education culled data from public college graduates in Massachusetts between 2014 and 2018.
The median salary for a Mass. Maritime alum five years after graduation was $98,418, according to the report. That was followed by the University of Massachusetts Lowell at $81,050, UMass Amherst at $80,441, UMass Boston at $74,042, and Bunker Hill Community College at $73,433.
The report found that graduating from a public college or university often served as a springboard to a solid profession.
“Our data suggests that postsecondary pathways may play a significant role not only in improving earnings outcomes for all graduates, but also in reducing income gaps across lines of economic and racial/ethnic backgrounds,” the report said. “For example, gaps in median earning levels across races/ethnicities are roughly half as large among those holding associate degrees from a Massachusetts public college as compared to those holding only a high school diploma.”
Governor Maura Healey, a Democrat, emphasized that finding.
“The data is clear — Massachusetts degrees deliver,” Healey said in a statement. “When students graduate from our community colleges and public colleges, they get paid more, they have more opportunities for upward mobility, and they provide a skilled workforce for our employers.
“This is why, working with the Legislature, we have prioritized making college more affordable in Massachusetts,” the statement continued. “When we lower barriers to pursuing higher education, our students succeed and our economy succeeds.”
Ranking at the bottom of the list of the state’s 28 public postsecondary schools was Springfield Technical Community College at $59,721, Roxbury Community College at $58,807, Bristol Community College and Holyoke Community College at $53,932, and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts at $53,627, according to the data.
There are gaps in the data, according to the report. Information about graduates who work out of state, part time, or are in the military is not included.
“Our earnings data and analyses are not without limitations,” the report said. “As examples, the data to which we have access does not include self-employed individuals, military personnel, federal government workers, or persons employed out of state, nor does the earnings data source include hours worked.”
The report omitted graduates who worked part time, and noted that surveying salaries at the five-year mark “may not fully account for varying, long-term earnings growth trajectories by field of study.”
One factor that could explain Mass. Maritime’s leading position could be its focus on STEM-related fields, which are typically more lucrative.
“Massachusetts Maritime Academy is a top-ranked university with seven undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business,” the school says on its website. “Our unique blend of academics and experiential learning allows students to learn theory, put that theory into practice, and graduate with both the knowledge and experience needed for a successful career.”
The Bourne academy offers undergraduate coursework in emergency management, energy systems engineering, facilities engineering, international maritime business, marine engineering, marine science, safety and environmental protection, and marine transportation, according to its website.
“Our 14:1 student to faculty ratio and average class size of 20 allows for personalized and direct access to our amazing professors,” the site says. “State-of-the-art labs and simulators create an immersive teaching experience that replicates real life scenarios within practice environments.”
Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com.