2026 Best Marine Science Schools
Looking for the best Marine Science programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 41 colleges by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Marine Science Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
California State University Monterey Bay tops our 2026 ranking of the best Marine Science programs schools in the United States. This public school is set in Seaside, CA. California State University Monterey Bay posts a six-year graduation rate of 59%. Students from in state pay about $7,779 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Science student debt is $17,800. More on California State University Monterey Bay
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #2 on this year's Marine Science ranking in the United States. This public school is set in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. The median Marine Science program debt is $21,275. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #3 on this year's Marine Science ranking in the United States. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public institution. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo posts a six-year graduation rate of 86%. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Typical Marine Science student debt is $19,273. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
You'll be in good company at Stony Brook University, which ranked #4 this year. Stony Brook University is a public school based in Stony Brook, NY. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete their Marine Science program here. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #5 spot. This public school is set in College Station, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Texas A And M University College Station Marine Science students take on a median of $20,031 in debt. More on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of California Davis placed #6 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Set in Davis, CA, University Of California Davis is a public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Typical Marine Science student debt is $14,404. Read more about University Of California Davis
San Jose State University placed #7 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $8,410 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. Read more about San Jose State University
University Of Massachusetts Boston placed #8 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Set in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Boston posts a six-year graduation rate of 49%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. The median Marine Science program debt is $26,236. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Boston
The University Of Texas Pan American came in at #9 in this year's ranking. The University Of Texas Pan American is a public school based in Edinburg, TX. Roughly 51% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete their Marine Science program here. More on The University Of Texas Pan American
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. Located in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates 83% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
University Of Florida ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. University Of Florida is a public school based in Gainesville, FL. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete their Marine Science program here. Read the full report on University Of Florida
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi placed #12 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Set in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi posts a six-year graduation rate of 40%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $20,794. Typical Marine Science student debt is $25,508. Get the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi report
Florida Atlantic University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Located in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Florida Atlantic University Marine Science students take on a median of $20,212 in debt. Read more about Florida Atlantic University
Nova Southeastern University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Set in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. The median Marine Science program debt is $25,021. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
San Francisco State University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Located in San Francisco, CA, San Francisco State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Students from in state pay about $7,846 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. More on San Francisco State University
Hawaii Pacific University came in at #16 in this year's ranking. Based in Honolulu, HI, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Hawaii Pacific University posts a six-year graduation rate of 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,392. Typical Marine Science student debt is $25,385. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #17 position. Based in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. About 55% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on University Of Maine
American Samoa Community College placed #18 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on American Samoa Community College
Maine Maritime Academy landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Maine Maritime Academy
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
Oregon State University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Oregon State University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #22 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell profile
University Of Southern California ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Get the full University Of Southern California report
University Of Georgia came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Georgia
Eckerd College
Eckerd College did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Eckerd College
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Science Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Juniata College
Juniata College placed #27 among Marine Science schools in the United States. More on Juniata College
California State University Stanislaus landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. More on California State University Stanislaus
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #29 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
University Of Rhode Island landed the #30 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
St Marys College Of Maryland came in at #31 in this year's ranking. More on St Marys College Of Maryland
Cape Fear Community College landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Cape Fear Community College profile
University Of South Alabama placed #33 among Marine Science schools in the United States. More on University Of South Alabama
University Of Alaska Fairbanks came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Get the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks report
Florida Keys Community College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Florida Keys Community College report
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of Alaska Anchorage
College Of Micronesia Fsm came in at #37 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on College Of Micronesia Fsm
College Of The Marshall Islands landed the #38 spot in the United States this year. More on College Of The Marshall Islands
Western Washington University placed #39 among Marine Science schools in the United States. More on Western Washington University
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #40 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of North Carolina At Wilmington profile
Rowan University
Rowan University did well this year, earning the #41 position. See the full Rowan University profile
Best Marine Science Schools by Degree Level
Compare rankings by degree level:
- Best Marine Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Marine Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).