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2023 Best Marine Biology Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region

14 Ranked Colleges
429 Degrees Awarded
$35,000 Avg Cost*
Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography

Veterans have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Marine Biology is the 298th most popular major in the country with 1,835 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.

Across the Far Western US region, there were 429 marine biology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in marine biology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great marine biology programs and a strong support system for veterans and active service members.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the marine biology program at the school, veteran affordability, and veteran population. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography

The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region vets studying biological oceanography.

Top 14 Best Marine Biology Colleges for Veterans in the Far Western US Region

1
USC crest
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

Out of the 14 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Southern California landed the #1 spot on the list. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 2 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

USC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 46,287 students enrolled at USC, 1,311 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 862 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $20,487. During this same period, 388 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full USC Veteran Student Life Report

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school handed out 31 diplomas to qualified ’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

UW Seattle also took the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Among the 48,149 students enrolled at UW Seattle, 1,283 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 769 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $14,190. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UW Seattle does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read More…

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Hawaii at Manoa. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography list. UH Manoa is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 53 ’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

UH Manoa did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Our most recent data shows that 3 of the 18,025 students enrolled at University of Hawaii at Manoa were GI Bill® students, of which 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $22,153. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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

Full UH Manoa Veteran Student Life Report

4

Out of the 14 schools in the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - San Diego landed the #4 spot on the list. UCSD is located in La Jolla, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 121 ’s biological oceanography degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCSD, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 112 of the 39,576 students enrolled at University of California - San Diego were GI Bill® students, of which 54 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $1,596. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 10 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UCLA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Among the 44,589 students enrolled at UCLA, 7 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 4 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,071. To help with additional expenses, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read More…

6

University of California - Santa Barbara came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. This large school is located in Santa Barbara, California, and it awarded 2 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our far western us region vets studying biological oceanography list, UCSB has also earned the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] rank in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.According to our most recent data, University of California - Santa Barbara supports 26,179 students, and 286 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 128 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $9,510. To help with additional expenses, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of California - Santa Barbara does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, 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 91%.

Read More…

7

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 72 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.According to our most recent data, University of California - Santa Cruz supports 19,161 students, and 273 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 114 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $8,631. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program.

With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

8

California State University - Long Beach landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. CSULB is a large public school situated in Long Beach, California. It awarded 25 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

CSULB also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Among the 40,069 students enrolled at CSULB, 822 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 310 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $3,845. On top of their other funding sources, 0 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Full CSULB Veteran Student Life Report

9

Hawaii Pacific University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. This small school is located in Honolulu, Hawaii, and it awarded 28 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

Hawaii Pacific University also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Of the 4,243 students enrolled at Hawaii Pacific University, 992 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 829 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $15,333. To help with additional expenses, 307 students received scholarships through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Eligible students may be able to receive credit for their military training.

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

[Read full report on veteran student life at Hawaii Pacific University]](/colleges/hawaii-pacific-university/student-life/veterans/)

10
San Jose State crest
San Jose State University
San Jose, California

San Jose State University ranked #10 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography list. San Jose State is a public institution located in San Jose, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at San Jose State, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Our most recent data shows that 660 of the 36,208 students enrolled at San Jose State University were GI Bill® students, of which 384 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $4,909. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. San Jose State University offers credit for military training for eligible students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read More…

11
WWU crest
Western Washington University
Bellingham, Washington

Western Washington University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. Located in Bellingham, Washington, this fairly large public school handed out 20 diplomas to qualified ’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at WWU, the school also landed the #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] spot in our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” ranking.Of the 15,197 students enrolled at Western Washington University, 622 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 324 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $5,933. In addition to receiving other benefits, 7 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. Western Washington University does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

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

[Read full report on veteran student life at Western Washington University]](/colleges/western-washington-university/student-life/veterans/)

12

University of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. Located in Fairbanks, Alaska, this medium-sized public school awarded 5 degrees to qualified ’s biological oceanography students in 2020-2021.

UAF also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].Among the 6,813 students enrolled at UAF, 665 are GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 417 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $4,685. In addition to receiving other benefits, 0 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. Students may be able to receive credit for their military training, depending on their background.

[Read full report on veteran student life at UAF]](/colleges/university-of-alaska-fairbanks/student-life/veterans/)

13
UO crest
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon

University of Oregon came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography ranking. Eugene, Oregon is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s biological oceanography degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

UO also made our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list, coming in at #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS].According to our most recent data, UO supports 21,752 students, and 582 of those are GI Bill® students, of which 314 are Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average Post-9/11 GI Bill® award for tuition and fees at the school was $11,688. In addition to receiving other benefits, 25 students received funds through the Yellow Ribbon Program. UO does offer credit for military training for eligible students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of [DEFAULT_RATE_STRING]% 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…

14

University of Hawaii at Hilo ranked #14 on this year’s Most Veteran Friendly in the Far Western US Region for Biological Oceanography list. University of Hawaii at Hilo is a small school located in Hilo, Hawaii that handed out 27 ’s biological oceanography degrees in 2020-2021.

UH Hilo did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #[COLLEGE_QUALITY_RANK_ALL_LEVELS] on our “[COLLEGE_QUALITY_NAME_ALL_LEVELS]” list.Of the 3,165 students enrolled at University of Hawaii at Hilo, 147 were GI Bill® students, according to our most recent data. Out of that number, 75 were Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients. The average tuition and fees award for the Post-9/11 GI Bill® recipients was $5,970. On top of their other funding sources, 3 students qualified for the Yellow Ribbon Program. University of Hawaii at Hilo offers credit for military training for eligible students.

Full University of Hawaii at Hilo Veteran Student Life Report

Notes and References

References

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