by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 35 U.S. colleges awarded 543 degrees and certificates in Chemical & Physical Oceanography. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 45% of graduates. College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $43,327 one year after completing, rising to $65,518 after four years.
A major in Chemical & Physical Oceanography covers Oceanography, Chemical And Physical. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Chemical Components, Mechanisms, Structure, And Movement Of Ocean Waters And Their Interaction With Terrestrial And Atmospheric Phenomena. Includes Instruction In Material Inputs And Outputs, Chemical And Biochemical Transformations In Marine Systems, Equilibria Studies, Inorganic And Organic Ocean Chemistry, Oceanographic Processes, Sediment Transport, Zone Processes, Circulation, Mixing, Tidal Movements, Wave Properties, And Seawater Properties.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, chemical & physical oceanography is a popular field of study, with 543 degrees awarded annually. 35 colleges award chemical & physical oceanography degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 72.
By level, the 543 awards include 3 associate degrees, 243 bachelor’s degrees, 173 master’s degrees and 124 doctorates.
Women earned 59% of chemical & physical oceanography degrees and certificates in the latest year (322 of 543). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (336) and Hispanic or Latino (57), and international students earned 61.
College Factual ranks 17 schools in its 2027 Best Chemical & Physical Oceanography Schools ranking, including 15 for bachelor’s degrees, 4 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks chemical & physical oceanography schools within 9 states. In all, 35 colleges offer chemical & physical oceanography programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Chemical & Physical Oceanography Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common chemical & physical oceanography credential is the bachelor’s degree: 243 of the 543 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to chemical & physical oceanography call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a chemical & physical oceanography degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 243 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 173 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 124 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to chemical & physical oceanography, at 31.4%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.4% |
| Master’s degree | 29.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Chemical & Physical Oceanography, with an average median salary of $108,448; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager and Space Studies Faculty Member.
The occupation related to chemical & physical oceanography with the most projected jobs is Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 615,002.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 150,428 | 4.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Hydrologists | 58,938 | 8.2% |
Chemical & Physical Oceanography graduates earn a median $43,327 one year after completing their program, $65,518 after four years and $63,299 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,327 |
| 4 years | $65,518 |
| 5 years | $63,299 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to chemical & physical oceanography 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 |
| Hydrologists | $96,513 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $58,500 |
Chemical & Physical Oceanography has 6 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 7,170 degrees a year; the largest are Geology/Earth Science, General (5,781), Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other (960) and Hydrology and Water Resources Science (210). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Geology/Earth Science, General | 5,781 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other | 960 |
| Hydrology and Water Resources Science | 210 |
| Geophysics and Seismology | 173 |
| Geochemistry | 25 |
| Paleontology | 21 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
