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2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Marine Biology

21 Ranked Colleges
71 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

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

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 71 marine biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major” ranking, we looked at 21 colleges that offer a degree in marine biology. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their marine biology program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

More Ways to Rank Marine Biology Schools

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major”.

Top 21 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Marine Biology

1
UMES crest
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Princess Anne, Maryland

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland Eastern Shore. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. Princess Anne, Maryland is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full UMES Marine Biology Report

2
William & Mary crest
William & Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend William & Mary. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. This medium-sized school is located in Williamsburg, Virginia, and it awarded 9 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate 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%.

Read full report on Marine Biology at William & Mary

3

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Alaska Fairbanks landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Marine Biology at University of Alaska Fairbanks

4

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #4 spot on the list. Honolulu, Hawaii is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa

5

Out of the 21 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in La Jolla, California, and it awarded 11 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

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 1.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at UCSD

6
Duke crest
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

Duke University ranked #6 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. Durham, North Carolina is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Marine Biology at Duke University

7
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

Northeastern University landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 7 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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 Northeastern Marine Biology Report

8
Southern Miss crest
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi

University of Southern Mississippi came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Southern Miss Marine Biology Report

9

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking, coming in at #9. Texas A&M Corpus Christi is a fairly large school located in Corpus Christi, Texas that handed out 2 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

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

10
U Miami crest
University of Miami
Coral Gables, Florida

University of Miami ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. This fairly large school is located in Coral Gables, Florida, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Marine Biology at U Miami

11

University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. This fairly large school is located in Mayaguez, , and it awarded 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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%. 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 University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

12

University of Maryland - Baltimore landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. UMB is located in Baltimore, Maryland and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Marine Biology at UMB

13

University of North Carolina at Wilmington did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Wilmington, North Carolina, this fairly large public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

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

14
UGA crest
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia

University of Georgia landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. University of Georgia is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 5 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Full UGA Marine Biology Report

15

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking, coming in at #15. Texas A&M University - College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Marine Biology at Texas A&M College Station

16
UD crest
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware

University of Delaware landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. UD is a large public school situated in Newark, Delaware. It awarded 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% 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 Biology at UD

17
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Marine Biology at USC

18

University of South Carolina - Columbia landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. UofSC is located in Columbia, South Carolina and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UofSC Marine Biology Report

19

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Santa Barbara did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. UCSB is a large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 2 doctorate’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at University of California - Santa Barbara

19

University of Maryland - Baltimore County ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major list. University of Maryland - Baltimore County is a public institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read more about Marine Biology at UMBC

19
Brown crest
Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Biological Oceanography Major ranking. Brown is a private not-for-profit institution located in Providence, Rhode Island. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Marine Biology at Brown

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