by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 84 U.S. colleges awarded 2,663 degrees and certificates in Marine Biology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 82% of graduates. College Factual ranks 52 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Biology 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.
A degree in Marine Biology involves the study of Marine Biology And Biological Oceanography. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Ecology And Behavior Of Microbes, Plants, And Animals Inhabiting Oceans, Coastal Waters, And Saltwater Wetlands And Their Interactions With The Physical Environment. Includes Instruction In Chemical, Physical, And Geological Oceanography; Molecular, Cellular, And Biochemical Studies; Marine Microbiology; Marine Botany; Ichthyology; Mammalogy; Marine Population Dynamics And Biodiversity; Reproductive Biology; Studies Of Specific Species, Phyla, Habitats, And Ecosystems; Marine Paleocology And Palentology; And Applications To Fields Such As Fisheries Science And Biotechnology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, marine biology draws strong interest, with 2,663 degrees awarded annually. 84 colleges award marine biology degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 173.
By level, the 2,663 awards include 17 associate degrees, 2,182 bachelor’s degrees, 380 master’s degrees and 84 doctorates.
Women earned 69% of marine biology degrees and certificates in the latest year (1,844 of 2,663). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,754) and Hispanic or Latino (405), and international students earned 97.
College Factual ranks 52 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Biology Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 47 for bachelor’s degrees, 19 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks marine biology schools within 21 states. In all, 84 colleges offer marine biology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Marine Biology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common marine biology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 2,182 of the 2,663 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to marine biology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, 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 a marine biology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,182 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 380 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 84 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to marine biology, at 37.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.0% |
| Master’s degree | 20.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Marine Biology, with an average median salary of $90,395; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Technicians, at 12.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, Research Coordinator and Research Scientist.
The occupation related to marine biology with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
Marine Biology 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 highest-paying occupation related to marine biology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
Marine Biology has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 7,034 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Ecology (1,199) and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (935). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| 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 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 129 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 24 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
