by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 39 U.S. colleges awarded 630 degrees and certificates in Marine Sciences. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $27,992 one year after completing, rising to $53,712 after four years.
A major in Marine Sciences involves the study of Marine Sciences. A Program That Focuses On The Study Of Biology, Chemistry, Geology And Physics Applied To Marine, Estuarine And Coastal Environments. Includes Instruction In Marine Biogeochemistry, Atmosphere And Ocean Dynamics, Coastal Ecology, Coastal Ocean Processes, Microbial Ecology, Marine Ecosystem Modeling, And Polar Microbiology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., marine sciences is a widely-pursued major, with 630 degrees awarded annually. 39 colleges award marine sciences degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 115.
By level, the 630 awards include 3 certificates, 8 associate degrees, 425 bachelor’s degrees, 148 master’s degrees and 46 doctorates.
Women earned 62% of marine sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (392 of 630). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (411) and Hispanic or Latino (80), and international students earned 20.
College Factual ranks 19 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Sciences Schools ranking, including 12 for bachelor’s degrees and 5 for master’s degrees. It also ranks marine sciences schools within 6 states. In all, 39 colleges offer marine sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Marine Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common marine sciences credential is the bachelor’s degree: 425 of the 630 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to marine sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Biology and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Written Expression and Inductive Reasoning.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a marine sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 3 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 8 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 425 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 148 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 46 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to marine sciences, at 40.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 40.5% |
| Master’s degree | 29.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 10.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
17 occupations are related to Marine Sciences, with an average median salary of $82,809; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Scientist, Naval Science Teacher, Humanities Teacher and City Planning Teacher.
The occupation related to marine sciences with the most projected jobs is Postsecondary Teachers, All Other, at 964,215.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | 964,215 | -0.1% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists | 188,913 | 7.4% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Climate Change Policy Analysts | 173,597 | 7.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
Marine Sciences graduates earn a median $27,992 one year after completing their program, $53,712 after four years and $48,064 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,992 |
| 4 years | $53,712 |
| 5 years | $48,064 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to marine sciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $90,139 |
| Industrial Ecologists | $83,212 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
