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Marine Science

Types of Degrees Marine Science Majors Are Earning

Those studying Marine Science may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	2
Associate’s Degree	17
Bachelor’s Degree	306
Master’s Degree	121
Doctor’s Degree	36

What Marine Science Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Marine Science develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Marine Science graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Marine Science emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.2 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.0 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Marine Science program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Marine Science careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Marine Science graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.2 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Marine Science professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Python	Object or component oriented development software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Marine Science graduates include:

• Research Scientist
• Survey Research Teacher
• Instructor
• Associate Professor
• Flight Simulation Instructor
• Interdisciplinary Professor
• Urban Planning Teacher
• Foreign Service Teacher
• Computer Technology Instructor
• Humanities Teacher
• Flight Teacher
• Science Teacher
• Lecturer
• Military Science Teacher
• Interior Design Teacher

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Marine Science graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share 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: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Marine Science?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 62% of Marine Science degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	299	62.0%
Men	183	38.0%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Marine Science graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	286	59.3%
Asian	34	7.1%
Hispanic or Latino	77	16.0%
Black or African American	6	1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	19	3.9%
Two or More Races	25	5.2%
Race Unknown	12	2.5%
International Students	22	4.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Marine Science Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Marine Science graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$27,992
4 years	$38,329
5 years	$48,064

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $48,064 — roughly 72% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Marine Science Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Marine Science graduates earn a median of $38,329 four years after completion — roughly 1% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Multi Interdisciplinary Studies	30
Accounting and Computer Science	30.16
Anthrozoology	30.34
Behavioral Sciences	30.17
Biological and Physical Sciences	30.01
Biopsychology	30.10
Classical and Ancient Studies	30.22
Climate Science	30.35
Cognitive Science	30.25
Computational Science	30.30
Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature	30.36
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis	30.26

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.