The CSU has announced a recommendation to integrate California State University Maritime Academy and California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and preserve Cal Maritime’s nearly 100-year history and reputation as a vital maritime institution. This integration reflects CSU’s commitment to its core educational mission, fiscal sustainability and supporting workforce needs while preserving Cal Maritime as one of the nation’s premier maritime academies.
The CSU Board of Trustees was presented with a recommendation for integration during the July 2024 board meeting and an informational item at the September meeting. The board will be asked to act on the proposal at the November meeting. If approved, the integration would be complete at the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
July 2024 agenda
July 2024 presentation video
July 2024 presentation slides
Read the integration explainer article
September 2024 agenda
September 2024 presentation video
September 2024 presentation slides
Frequently Asked Questions
September 2024
Additional information and discussion by Board, followed by additional consultation
October 2024
Continued work by pre-integration workgroups
November 2024
Board action
July 2025
Administrative integration becomes effective
Fall 2026
All Maritime Academy students enrolled as Cal Poly students
The only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast and one of only six state maritime academies in the U.S., California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) was founded in 1929 and became a part of the CSU in 1995. Located on 92 acres of waterfront property in Vallejo, California—and aboard the 500-foot Training Ship Golden Bear—Cal Maritime offers multiple academic programs that prepare students for high-impact maritime industry careers in the fields of engineering, oceanography, transportation, global logistics, marine sciences and international relations. Specialized programs in marine transportation, marine engineering technology and mechanical engineering lead to a Merchant Marine license issued by the U.S. Coast Guard in addition to a bachelor's degree upon graduation. Cal Maritime consistently appears as a top university for return-on-investment rankings leading to high paying jobs for its graduates.
As of the 2023-24 academic year:
Learn more about the Training Ship Golden Bear