[Ocean Engineering](/majors/engineering/oe-ocean-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 17 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value ocean engineering schools.
Finding the Best Value Ocean Engineering School for You
Where you study ocean engineering affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Ocean Engineering Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Ocean Engineering Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
For return on investment in ocean engineering, no school beat Florida Atlantic University this year. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Students borrow a median of $29,000 to complete the ocean engineering program here. Soon after graduation, ocean engineering degree recipients from Florida Atlantic University generally make around $67,941. That is a strong return on a $29,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Hawaii At Manoa one of the best values for ocean engineering. Located in the city of Honolulu, University Of Hawaii At Manoa is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $34,218 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for ocean engineering graduates is $20,577. Early-career ocean engineering graduates make about $48,181. That is a strong return on a $20,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 87%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Rhode Island one of the best values for ocean engineering. Located in the suburb of Kingston, University Of Rhode Island is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,942, while out-of-state students pay about $37,146. Typical student debt for ocean engineering graduates is $25,147. Early-career ocean engineering graduates make about $70,939. Set against $25,147 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value ocean engineering schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, with out-of-state students paying around $40,124. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the ocean engineering program here. Early-career ocean engineering graduates make about $71,788. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Texas A And M University College Station admits about 57% of applicants.
Florida Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in ocean engineering, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Melbourne, Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,900. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the ocean engineering program here. Soon after graduation, ocean engineering degree recipients from Florida Institute Of Technology generally make around $68,475. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
[Ocean Engineering](/majors/engineering/oe-ocean-engineering/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
