2026 Best Marine Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Marine Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 41 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
No school ranked higher than The University Of Texas At Austin this year in the United States. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The University Of Texas At Austin posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. The median Marine Science program debt is $21,275. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
The strong Marine Science programs at Stony Brook University earned it the #2 place in the United States. Located in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. Stony Brook University graduates 76% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. More on Stony Brook University
You'll be in good company at University Of Massachusetts Boston, which ranked #3 this year. Set in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete their Marine Science program here. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
A rank of #4 makes Texas A And M University Corpus Christi one of the top choices 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%. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,794. Typical Marine Science student debt is $25,508. Read more about Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
The strong Marine Science programs at University Of Maine earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Orono, ME. University Of Maine graduates 55% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. More on University Of Maine
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #6 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Carolina At Wilmington profile
Florida Atlantic University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Read more about Florida Atlantic University
College Of Micronesia Fsm ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. More on College Of Micronesia Fsm
University Of Alaska Fairbanks did well this year, earning the #9 position. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read the full report on San Jose State University
Western Washington University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. More on Western Washington University
California State University Monterey Bay placed #12 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full California State University Monterey Bay profile
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Florida Keys Community College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
Maine Maritime Academy placed #15 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
Cape Fear Community College did well this year, earning the #16 position. Get the full Cape Fear Community College report
St Marys College Of Maryland landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read more about St Marys College Of Maryland
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #18 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full The University Of Texas Pan American report
Nova Southeastern University ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
Rowan University
Rowan University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Rowan University
University Of Florida came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Read more about University Of Florida
University Of South Alabama ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of South Alabama
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #23 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on College Of The Marshall Islands
Oregon State University did well this year, earning the #24 position. Get the full Oregon State University report
University Of Massachusetts Amherst landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
University Of Southern California placed #26 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Southern California profile
University Of California Davis landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of California Davis
American Samoa Community College placed #28 among Marine Science schools in the United States. More on American Samoa Community College
Juniata College
Juniata College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Juniata College
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #30 in this year's ranking. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
Eckerd College
Eckerd College came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Eckerd College
Texas A And M University College Station landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Rhode Island landed the #33 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Rhode Island profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage did well this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about University Of Alaska Anchorage
California State University Stanislaus landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Get the full California State University Stanislaus report
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #36 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. See the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth profile
San Francisco State University placed #37 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
Hawaii Pacific University placed #38 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #40 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Lowell
University Of Georgia placed #41 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Related Marine Science Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Marine Science Schools (All Levels)
- 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled 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).
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