by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 32 degrees and certificates in Undersea Warfare. Graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing, rising to $106,353 after four years.
A degree in Undersea Warfare explores Undersea Warfare. A Program That Focuses On The Principles, Engineering Design And Military Concepts That Govern The Operational Employment Of Underwater Sensors And Weapons Systems. Includes Instruction In Acoustics, Electrical, And Mechanical Engineering; Mathematics; Meteorology; Oceanography; Physics; Operations Analysis; Human Factors; Computer Science; And Robotics.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, undersea warfare is a popular field of study, with 32 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award undersea warfare degrees, an average of 32 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 32.
All 32 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 16% of undersea warfare degrees and certificates in the latest year (5 of 32). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (21) and Asian (2), and international students earned 7.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to undersea warfare, at 3.7 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Engineering and Technology, Computers and Electronics and Mathematics. The most important abilities are Near Vision, Problem Sensitivity and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an undersea warfare degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 32 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to undersea warfare, at 47.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 47.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 9.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.9% |
| Some college courses | 6.8% |
| Master’s degree | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Undersea Warfare, with an average median salary of $95,412; the strongest outlook belongs to Non-Destructive Testing Specialists, at 3.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Test Technician (Test Tech), Laser Specialist, Optics Technician (Optics Tech) and Photonics Engineering Technologist.
The occupation related to undersea warfare with the most projected jobs is Photonics Technicians, at 306,018.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Photonics Technicians | 306,018 | 1.6% |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | 295,668 | 3.0% |
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | 169,705 | 2.0% |
Undersea Warfare graduates earn a median $89,751 one year after completing their program, $106,353 after four years and $58,787 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $89,751 |
| 4 years | $106,353 |
| 5 years | $58,787 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to undersea warfare is Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other, with a median salary of $121,642.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other | $121,642 |
| Photonics Technicians | $106,964 |
| Non-Destructive Testing Specialists | $57,631 |
Undersea Warfare has 5 similar majors in the Military Technologies & Sciences field, which together award 321 degrees a year; the largest are Space Systems Operations (193), Military Applied Sciences, Other (97) and Combat Systems Engineering (19). Browse all Military Technologies & Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Space Systems Operations | 193 |
| Military Applied Sciences, Other | 97 |
| Combat Systems Engineering | 19 |
| Engineering Acoustics | 6 |
| Operational Oceanography | 6 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.