by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 9 U.S. colleges awarded 129 degrees and certificates in Aquatic Biology/Limnology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 85% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Aquatic Biology/Limnology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing, rising to $66,409 after four years.
Studying Aquatic Biology/Limnology covers Aquatic Biology/limnology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Ecology And Behavior Of Microbes, Plants, And Animals Inhabiting Inland Fresh Waters Such As Lakes, Ponds, Rivers, Creeks, Estuaries, And Wetlands. Includes Instruction In Geology And Hydrology; Aquatic Ecosystems; Microbiology; Mycology; Botany; Ichthyology; Mammalogy; Population Biology And Biodiversity; Studies Of Specific Species, Phyla, And Habitats; And Applications To Fields Such As Natural Resources Conservation, Fisheries Science, And Biotechnology. Examples: [Aquatic Ecology].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, aquatic biology/limnology draws strong interest, with 129 degrees awarded annually. 9 colleges award aquatic biology/limnology degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 39.
By level, the 129 awards include 110 bachelor’s degrees, 17 master’s degrees and 2 doctorates.
Women earned 56% of aquatic biology/limnology degrees and certificates in the latest year (72 of 129). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (91) and Hispanic or Latino (22), and international students earned 6.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Aquatic Biology/Limnology Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks aquatic biology/limnology schools within 2 states. In all, 9 colleges offer aquatic biology/limnology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Aquatic Biology/Limnology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common aquatic biology/limnology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 110 of the 129 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to aquatic biology/limnology call most for Science, Reading Comprehension and Critical Thinking, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an aquatic biology/limnology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 110 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 17 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
Post-doctoral training is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to aquatic biology/limnology, at 27.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 27.0% |
| Master’s degree | 24.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 22.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 20.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.3% |
| Some college courses | 0.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
7 occupations are related to Aquatic Biology/Limnology, with an average median salary of $73,702; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Scientist, Scientist, Research Associate and Research Technician.
The occupation related to aquatic biology/limnology with the most projected jobs is Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 276,211.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | 11,006 | 5.4% |
Aquatic Biology/Limnology graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing their program, $66,409 after four years and $64,232 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $66,409 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to aquatic biology/limnology, with a median salary of $100,160.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Aquatic Biology/Limnology has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 9,568 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (2,663) and Ecology (1,199). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,663 |
| Ecology | 1,199 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 935 |
| Environmental Biology | 490 |
| Conservation Biology | 431 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 346 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 248 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 207 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 24 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
