by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 18 U.S. colleges awarded 132 degrees and certificates in Aquaculture. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 43% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Aquaculture Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing, rising to $50,144 after four years.
A major in Aquaculture involves the study of Aquaculture. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Select, Culture, Propagate, Harvest, And Market Domesticated Fish, Shellfish, And Marine Plants, Both Freshwater And Saltwater. Includes Instruction In The Basic Principles Of Aquatic And Marine Biology; Health And Nutrition Of Aquatic And Marine Life; Design And Operation Of Fish Farms, Breeding Facilities, Culture Beds, And Related Enterprises; And Related Issues Of Safety, Applicable Regulations, Logistics, And Supply.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, aquaculture is a widely-pursued major, with 132 degrees awarded annually. 18 colleges award aquaculture degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 36.
By level, the 132 awards include 7 certificates, 16 associate degrees, 50 bachelor’s degrees, 57 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 37% of aquaculture degrees and certificates in the latest year (49 of 132). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (88) and Hispanic or Latino (11), and international students earned 10.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Aquaculture Schools ranking, including 1 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks aquaculture schools within 2 states. In all, 18 colleges offer aquaculture programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Aquaculture Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common aquaculture credential is the master’s degree: 57 of the 132 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to aquaculture call most for Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of Biology, Administration and Management and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Speech Clarity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an aquaculture degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 7 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 50 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 57 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to aquaculture, at 49.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 49.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 24.1% |
| Master’s degree | 12.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Some college courses | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Aquaculture, with an average median salary of $62,795; the strongest outlook belongs to Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Horticulture Manager, Assistant Professor, Soil Science Teacher and Dairy Husbandry Teacher.
The occupation related to aquaculture with the most projected jobs is Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 297,433.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 297,433 | 4.5% |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | 231,384 | 14.7% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | 33,611 | -0.6% |
Aquaculture graduates earn a median $38,195 one year after completing their program, $50,144 after four years and $47,551 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $38,195 |
| 4 years | $50,144 |
| 5 years | $47,551 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to aquaculture, with a median salary of $84,680.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers | $84,680 |
| Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $66,903 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers | $36,803 |
Aquaculture has 7 similar majors in the Agriculture field, which together award 3,690 degrees a year; the largest are Agricultural Production Operations, General (970), Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production (862) and Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture (774). Browse all Agriculture majors or the full list of college majors.
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