2027 Best Value Marine Sciences Master’s Degree Schools

[Marine Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/marine-science/marine-sciences/) 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 5 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value marine sciences schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Marine Sciences Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marine sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marine Sciences Schools
Florida Atlantic University earned the #1 spot for value among marine sciences schools in the United States. Florida Atlantic University is a very large public school located in the city of Boca Raton. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine sciences graduates is $20,212. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $49,340. Set against $20,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in marine sciences will find it at San Francisco State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $17,020 in student loans. Marine Sciences graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $49,716 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
San Jose State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine sciences, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth earned it the #4 place for marine sciences. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of North Dartmouth. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,612, compared with $32,567 for out-of-state students. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,106 in student loans. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $54,669. Set against $27,106 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth admits about 91% of applicants.
Hawaii Pacific University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marine sciences, landing the #5 spot this year. Hawaii Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Honolulu. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,392. Typical student debt for marine sciences graduates is $25,385. Soon after graduation, marine sciences degree recipients from Hawaii Pacific University generally make around $49,182. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hawaii Pacific University admits about 86% of applicants.
Other Marine Sciences Degree Levels
Explore the best-value marine sciences schools at other degree levels:
View All Marine Sciences Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.