by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 10 U.S. colleges awarded 501 degrees and certificates in Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing, rising to $78,025 after four years.
A major in Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer covers Marine Science/merchant Marine Officer. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Serve As Captains, Executive Officers, Engineers And Ranking Mates On Commercially Licensed Inland, Coastal And Ocean-Going Vessels. Includes Instruction In Maritime Traditions And Law, Maritime Policy, Economics And Management Of Commercial Marine Operations, Basic Naval Architecture And Engineering, Shipboard Power Systems Engineering, Crew Supervision, And Administrative Procedures.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, marine science/merchant marine officer is a widely-pursued major, with 501 degrees awarded annually. 10 colleges award marine science/merchant marine officer degrees, an average of 50 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 103.
By level, the 501 awards include 30 certificates, 16 associate degrees, 453 bachelor’s degrees and 2 master’s degrees.
Women earned 15% of marine science/merchant marine officer degrees and certificates in the latest year (76 of 501). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (379) and Hispanic or Latino (48), and international students earned 8.
College Factual ranks 9 schools in its 2027 Best Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer Schools ranking, including 7 for bachelor’s degrees. It also ranks marine science/merchant marine officer schools within 6 states. In all, 10 colleges offer marine science/merchant marine officer programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common marine science/merchant marine officer credential is the bachelor’s degree: 453 of the 501 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to marine science/merchant marine officer call most for Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring and Monitoring, and for knowledge of Mechanical, Transportation and Public Safety and Security, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Control Precision, Problem Sensitivity and Oral Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a marine science/merchant marine officer degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 30 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 16 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 453 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to marine science/merchant marine officer, at 42.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 16.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.7% |
| Some college courses | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer, with an average median salary of $53,981; the strongest outlook belongs to Motorboat Operators, at 3.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Speedboat Driver, Harbor Pilot, River Pilot and Boat Operator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to marine science/merchant marine officer, at 1,512,311.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | 1,512,311 | 3.1% |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 1,041,739 | -0.1% |
| Ship Engineers | 946,411 | -3.5% |
Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer graduates earn a median $55,096 one year after completing their program, $78,025 after four years and $66,829 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,096 |
| 4 years | $78,025 |
| 5 years | $66,829 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to marine science/merchant marine officer, with a median salary of $67,056.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | $67,056 |
| Ship Engineers | $67,019 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $27,869 |
Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer has 2 similar majors in the Transportation & Materials Moving field, which together award 587 degrees a year; the largest are Diver, Professional and Instructor (504) and Marine Transportation, Other (83). Browse all Transportation & Materials Moving majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Diver, Professional and Instructor | 504 |
| Marine Transportation, Other | 83 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
