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2023 Most Popular Colleges for Marine Science

28 Ranked Colleges
334 Degrees Awarded
$31,000 Avg Cost*
Most Well Attended Marine Science Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Most Well Attended Marine Science Major” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 334 people earned their degree in marine science, making the major the 295th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, marine science graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $26,266 and had an average of $22,416 in loans still to pay off.

This year’s “Most Well Attended Marine Science Major” ranking analyzed 28 colleges that offered a degree in marine science. To top this list, a school must have a successful marine science program that graduates more students in the field than other colleges that offer the same major.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Most Well Attended Marine Science Major” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Most Well Attended Marine Science Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Most Well Attended Marine Science Major”.

1

Out of the 28 schools in the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, California State University - Monterey Bay landed the #1 spot on the list. CSUMB is a medium-sized public school situated in Seaside, California. It awarded 64 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at California State University - Monterey Bay

2

Out of the 28 schools in the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Maine landed the #2 spot on the list. UMaine is a fairly large school located in Orono, Maine that handed out 63 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at University of Maine

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo. The school came in at #3 for the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo is located in San Luis Obispo, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s marine science degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Marine Science at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo

4
SUNY Stony Brook crest
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York

Out of the 28 schools in the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Stony Brook University landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Stony Brook, New York, this large public school awarded 27 degrees to qualified ’s marine science students in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at Stony Brook University

5
CFCC crest
Cape Fear Community College
Wilmington, North Carolina

Out of the 28 schools in the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Cape Fear Community College landed the #5 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 24 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Full CFCC Marine Science Report

6
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. Gainesville, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s marine science degrees to 23 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at University of Florida

7

With a ranking of #7, College of Micronesia-FSM did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. COM-FSM is a small school located in Pohnpei, that handed out 14 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Full COM-FSM Marine Science Report

8

With a ranking of #8, University of California - Davis did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. University of California - Davis is a large public school situated in Davis, California. It awarded 12 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full University of California - Davis Marine Science Report

9
FAU crest
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida

Florida Atlantic University did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Boca Raton, Florida, and it awarded 11 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at FAU

10

Texas A&M University - College Station ranked #10 on this year’s Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s marine science degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at Texas A&M College Station

10

The University of Texas at Austin landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 15 ’s marine science degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read more about Marine Science at The University of Texas at Austin

12

Hawaii Pacific University landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 8 diplomas to qualified ’s marine science students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at Hawaii Pacific University

13

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Corpus Christi, Texas, this fairly large public school awarded 6 degrees to qualified ’s marine science students in 2020-2021.

Full Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi Marine Science Report

14

University of Massachusetts - Boston came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. University of Massachusetts - Boston is a fairly large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 5 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Marine Science at UMass Boston

15

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ranked #15 on this year’s Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a large school located in Edinburg, Texas that handed out 4 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at UT Rio Grande Valley

16
UMass Dartmouth crest
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. UMass Dartmouth is a medium-sized school located in North Dartmouth, Massachusetts that handed out 3 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Full University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth Marine Science Report

16
SFSU crest
San Francisco State University
San Francisco, California

San Francisco State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. SFSU is a large school located in San Francisco, California that handed out 3 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at San Francisco State University

16
NUS Florida crest
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Nova Southeastern University landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at NUS Florida

16
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. San Jose State is a large school located in San Jose, California that handed out 3 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Marine Science at San Jose State University

20

American Samoa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking, coming in at #20. American Samoa Community College is a public institution located in PagoPago, . The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Marine Science at American Samoa Community College

21

With a ranking of #21, California State University - Stanislaus did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. Stan State is a fairly large school located in Turlock, California that handed out 0 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Marine Science at California State University - Stanislaus

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a large school located in Amherst, Massachusetts that handed out 3 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at UMass Amherst

21
Eckerd crest
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Eckerd College did quite well in the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking, coming in at #21. Eckerd is a private not-for-profit institution located in Saint Petersburg, Florida. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Science at Eckerd College

21

Maine Maritime Academy came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. Maine Maritime Academy is a small public school situated in Castine, Maine. It awarded 0 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Marine Science at Maine Maritime

21

The College of the Florida Keys ranked #21 on this year’s Most Well Attended Marine Science Major list. Located in Key West, Florida, this small public school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified ’s marine science students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Marine Science at The College of the Florida Keys

21

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s marine science students in 2020-2021.

Full University of Alaska Fairbanks Marine Science Report

21
Lake Superior State University crest
Lake Superior State University
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan

Lake Superior State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. This small school is located in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan, and it awarded 0 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lake Superior State University Marine Science Report

21
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University landed the #21 spot on the 2023 Most Well Attended Marine Science Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Bellingham, Washington, and it awarded 0 ’s marine science degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Science at WWU

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