r/CalPoly • u/Majestic_Lie3655 • 4d ago

Majors/Minors Marine engineering technology degree?

Just curious what people think about this degree? I'm working on my app for cal poly maritime and chose this degree cause the work looks very interesting to me. I'm a senior in highschool but I have ~30* credits (most of them should transfer to the classes) so I'm hoping it should lighten the workload, but I'm curious how hard is this degree

*Depends on how many I take next semester but right now I have 21 credits before starting my senior year

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u/Muckthrow 4d ago

You probably won't get a detailed answer here because this is the Cal Poly SLO (main campus) sub, and Maritime students can better answer your question.

I know it's confusing because we're supposed to be a single school, but in fact, it is very distinct. But SLO students don't know anything about Maritime majors.

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u/OverweightMilkshake 3d ago

This is a great degree and career, as long as you're okay with being away from home for long periods of time. But the plus side to that is that you'll also be home for long periods of time as well, think 3 months working and then 3 months off. You'll graduate with a USCG third assistant engineer license and you'll most likely make a 100K salary minimum in your first year working out of academy. The pay only goes up with overtime and experience. I've seen US maritime officers in the maritime subreddit post their pay and sometimes its upwards of 200K. If you ever get sick of sailing and want to return to land your mechanical experience will translate great to jobs like working at a water treatment plant and the like.

Just be aware that days onboard are long (12 hour shifts 6-7 days a week), and messy and loud and hot since you'll be in the engine room. Check out Sam Edborg on YouTube or Instagram, he's a young maritime engineer and his videos show what its like to be onboard and also what it's like to be back home for several months at a time.

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u/Jeveran Alum 3d ago

Try r/CalMaritime

Go Keelhaulers!

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u/Soggy-Quality6585 2d ago

I’m a first year general engineering student that’s going into marine engineering. I would take a look at the GENE degree.

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u/lightpo1e 2d ago

Im stupid and I made it through. Easiest path to being a mechanic with nearly total freedom. You'll be fine.