by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 263 degrees and certificates in Ocean Engineering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 63% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Ocean Engineering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $70,358 one year after completing, rising to $87,737 after four years.
The ocean covers most of the earth's surface, yet is still full of mysteries scientists have yet to uncover. If you would like to develop structures to help us understand, protect, and utilize the world's largest resource, consider majoring in Ocean Engineering.
Ocean Engineers mix different types of engineering from civil to electrical to chemical with a knowledge of the ocean. Some of the tasks they may complete include developing instruments to take measurements, building structures to control water levels, and constructing underwater tunnels. In order to prepare for this career you will take classes in oceanography, civil engineering, naval architecture, computer-aided design, and maritime systems along with more specialized classes like analysis of ocean waves and air-sea interactions to learn everything about the Ocean Engineering field.
Studying Ocean Engineering involves the study of Ocean Engineering.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, ocean engineering is a widely-pursued major, with 263 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award ocean engineering degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 60.
By level, the 263 awards include 1 associate degrees, 165 bachelor’s degrees, 77 master’s degrees and 20 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of ocean engineering degrees and certificates in the latest year (79 of 263). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (168) and Hispanic or Latino (27), and international students earned 36.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Ocean Engineering Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks ocean engineering schools within 3 states. In all, 15 colleges offer ocean engineering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Ocean Engineering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common ocean engineering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 165 of the 263 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to ocean engineering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Since Ocean Engineering combines the field of engineering with oceanography, students should have a strong background in math, chemistry, and physics. Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills will aid students in designing new structures that can withstand the corrosive and unpredictable nature of the ocean. It is also important you are able to work in teams and have strong communication skills to explain projects and ensure they move along successfully.
Although most engineers typically work in an office setting, ocean engineers must be flexible enough to make trips to the field location. Depending on your occupation, you may have to travel to work on a project and put in longer hours to ensure timely completion.
Like other engineering majors, experience through internships will give students the ability to work hands-on in the field as well as making them attractive to future employers. Students may work summer jobs, internships, or participate in summer learning programs to gain this additional experience.
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How long an ocean engineering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 165 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 77 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 20 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to ocean engineering, at 30.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Ocean Engineering, with an average median salary of $92,493; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Technical Professor, Radio Engineering Teacher, Circuits and Robotics Instructor and Lecturer.
The possible career options available to Ocean Engineering majors are as vast as the ocean itself. Graduates have the skills of an engineer and are able to specialize in anything ocean related. Some graduates are working to preserve endangered areas, building dikes and other water control methods, constructing rigs to survey the ocean floor, and developing materials to withstand the corrosive environment. The skills and experience this degree opens many different doors.
The occupation related to ocean engineering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Ocean Engineering graduates earn a median $70,358 one year after completing their program, $87,737 after four years and $91,796 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $70,358 |
| 4 years | $87,737 |
| 5 years | $91,796 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to ocean engineering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
Ocean Engineering includes 1 concentration; by graduates, the largest is Ocean Engineering (263). It has 40 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 202,772 degrees a year; the largest are Mechanical Engineering (43,874), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (27,513) and Computer Engineering (21,335). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Ocean Engineering | 263 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering | 43,874 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | 27,513 |
| Computer Engineering | 21,335 |
| Civil Engineering | 19,856 |
| Engineering, General | 14,789 |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | 14,592 |
| Chemical Engineering | 10,559 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical/Space Engineering | 10,170 |
| Industrial Engineering | 8,023 |
| Systems Engineering | 4,489 |
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