CMA vs. UW-Superior

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with University of Wisconsin Superior in Superior, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin Superior is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (2,833 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin Superior is in Superior, WI (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin Superior is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; University of Wisconsin Superior 18:1.

CMA vs. UW-Superior Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or UW-Superior? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Wisconsin Superior than CMA ($13,215 vs. $19,040).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin Superior are 48.6% lower than at California State University Maritime Academy ($7,476 vs. $14,536).
• California State University Maritime Academy is 12.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-Superior (about $1,132 more per year; $9,944.00 vs. $8,812.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 34.8% higher at CMA than at University of Wisconsin Superior (about $5,818 more per year; $22,544.00 vs. $16,726.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Wisconsin Superior than at California State University Maritime Academy (67% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students is 97.6% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin Superior students ($11,038 vs. $5,585).

CMA vs. UW-Superior Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or UW-Superior? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between UW-Superior and CMA.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin Superior 18/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; UW-Superior - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; UW-Superior Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman CMA students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at UW-Superior (3.32).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than UW-Superior (93%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 19.3% at UW-Superior.

CMA vs. UW-Superior Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and UW-Superior? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• California State University Maritime Academy's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than University of Wisconsin Superior's (44%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $52,800 more per year than UW-Superior graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $37,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Wisconsin Superior graduates have a $2,526 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($23,000 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, UW-Superior graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($237 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UW-Superior students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.