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2023 Best Value Colleges for Marine Biology in the Southeast Region

21 Ranked Colleges
840 Degrees Awarded
$21,800 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2020-2021, 1,835 people earned their degree in marine biology, making the major the 298th most popular in the United States.

Across the Southeast region, there were 840 marine biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking analyzed 21 colleges that offered a degree in marine biology. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality marine biology programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the marine biology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region” list to help you make the college decision.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region

The colleges and universities below are the best for southeast region biological oceanography students.

Top 21 Best Value Colleges for Marine Biology in the Southeast Region

1
Savannah State University crest
Savannah State University
Savannah, Georgia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Savannah State University. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. Savannah State University is located in Savannah, Georgia and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 37 ’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region biological oceanography students list, Savannah State University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Savannah State University is $10,157 for southeast region biological oceanography students.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Savannah State University

2
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University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Georgia landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Athens, Georgia, and it awarded 6 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UGA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $14,257 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students per year to attend University of Georgia.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Marine Biology at University of Georgia

3
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Southern Mississippi. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region. Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 29 ’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Southern Miss, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Southern Miss is $14,032 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

Read full report on Marine Biology at University of Southern Mississippi

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of North Carolina at Wilmington. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region. This fairly large school is located in Wilmington, North Carolina, and it awarded 98 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UNCW did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for UNCW is $19,136 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at University of North Carolina at Wilmington

5
Coastal Carolina University crest
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, South Carolina

Out of the 21 schools in the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Coastal Carolina University landed the #5 spot on the list. Coastal Carolina University is a fairly large school located in Conway, South Carolina that handed out 129 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Coastal Carolina University, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Coastal Carolina University is $14,129 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

Full Coastal Carolina University Marine Biology Report

6

With a ranking of #6, University of South Carolina - Columbia did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. Columbia, South Carolina is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 68 students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UofSC, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UofSC is $20,559 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, 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 90%.

Full UofSC Marine Biology Report

7

Florida International University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #7. Miami, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

FIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $5,298 for southeast region biological oceanography students per year to attend FIU.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at Florida International University

8

The University of West Florida ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. The University of West Florida is a fairly large school located in Pensacola, Florida that handed out 33 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UWF did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $7,089 for southeast region biological oceanography students per year to attend The University of West Florida.

Read more about Marine Biology at The University of West Florida

9
Nicholls State University crest
Nicholls State University
Thibodaux, Louisiana

Nicholls State University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Nicholls State University is located in Thibodaux, Louisiana and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 8 ’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our southeast region biological oceanography students list, Nicholls State University has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nicholls State University is $12,755 for southeast region biological oceanography students.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Nicholls State University

10
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

William & Mary ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. William & Mary is a public institution located in Williamsburg, Virginia. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

William & Mary also took the #4 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. It costs about $19,593 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students per year to attend William & Mary.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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%.

Read more about Marine Biology at William & Mary

11
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The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama

With a ranking of #11, The University of Alabama did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. UA is a large school located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama that handed out 25 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UA, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UA is $20,917 for southeast region biological oceanography students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 Biology at UA

12

The University of Tampa landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. The University of Tampa is a private not-for-profit institution located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 52 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $32,440 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students per year to attend The University of Tampa.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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%.

Full The University of Tampa Marine Biology Report

13
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Auburn University
Auburn, Alabama

Auburn University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #13. Auburn, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 10 students in 2020-2021.

Auburn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $24,018 for southeast region biological oceanography students per year to attend Auburn.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Auburn

14

Florida Institute of Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. Florida Tech is a medium-sized school located in Melbourne, Florida that handed out 22 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

Florida Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $31,009 for southeast region biological oceanography students per year to attend Florida Institute of Technology.

Read more about Marine Biology at Florida Tech

15
NUS Florida crest
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Nova Southeastern University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. NUS Florida is a private not-for-profit institution located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The school has a large population, and it awarded 49 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NUS Florida, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Nova Southeastern University is $25,833 for southeast region biological oceanography students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at Nova Southeastern University

16
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College of Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina

College of Charleston landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. C of C is a fairly large school located in Charleston, South Carolina that handed out 29 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

C of C also made our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for College of Charleston is $19,654 for southeast region biological oceanography students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Marine Biology at College of Charleston

17
Florida Southern crest
Florida Southern College
Lakeland, Florida

With a ranking of #17, Florida Southern College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. Lakeland, Florida is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 18 students in 2020-2021.

Florida Southern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $26,517 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students per year to attend Florida Southern.

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 Biology at Florida Southern College

18
JU crest
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville, Florida

With a ranking of #18, Jacksonville University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 diplomas to qualified ’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

JU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $25,367 for southeast region biological oceanography students per year to attend JU.

Full JU Marine Biology Report

19
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida

With a ranking of #19, University of Miami did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region list. University of Miami is a fairly large school located in Coral Gables, Florida that handed out 65 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

U Miami did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list. It costs about $46,098 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students per year to attend University of Miami.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Miami Marine Biology Report

20
Eckerd crest
Eckerd College
Saint Petersburg, Florida

Eckerd College did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking, coming in at #20. Eckerd College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Saint Petersburg, Florida. It awarded 76 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

Eckerd also made our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” list, coming in at #15. The estimated yearly cost for Eckerd College is $36,531 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Eckerd College Marine Biology Report

21
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Biological Oceanography Schools in the Southeast Region ranking. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

Duke also took the #1 spot in our “Best Marine Biology Schools in the Southeast Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Duke is $32,459 for Southeast Region Biological Oceanography students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.3%, 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 Biology at Duke University

Notes and References

References

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