2026 Best Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Marine Science master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 41 institutions 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 arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than California State University Monterey Bay this year in the United States. Based in Seaside, CA, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. About 59% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, while out-of-state students pay about $20,379. Typical Marine Science student debt is $17,800. Read the full report on California State University Monterey Bay
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #2 spot. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,275 to complete their Marine Science program here. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
You'll be in good company at Stony Brook University, which ranked #3 this year. Located in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. About 76% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Students borrow a median of $20,537 to complete their Marine Science program here. Get the full Stony Brook University report
You'll be in good company at San Jose State University, which ranked #4 this year. This public school is set in San Jose, CA. About 69% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. See the full San Jose State University profile
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #5 spot. Set in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Science student debt is $26,236. See the full University Of Massachusetts Boston profile
The University Of Texas Pan American did well this year, earning the #6 position. Located in Edinburg, TX, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. The University Of Texas Pan American graduates 51% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Graduates carry a median of $14,694 in student loans. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Pan American
Florida Atlantic University came in at #7 in this year's ranking. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Students borrow a median of $20,212 to complete their Marine Science program here. See the full Florida Atlantic University profile
Nova Southeastern University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. This private not-for-profit school is set in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,700. Nova Southeastern University Marine Science students take on a median of $25,021 in debt. Read the full report on Nova Southeastern University
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #9 in this year's ranking. Based 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%. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $20,794 for out-of-state students. The median Marine Science program debt is $25,508. Read more about Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
San Francisco State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. San Francisco State University is a public school based in San Francisco, CA. About 50% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. The median Marine Science program debt is $17,024. More on San Francisco State University
Hawaii Pacific University landed the #11 spot in the United States this year. Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school based in Honolulu, HI. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. In-state tuition and fees run about $34,392. Students borrow a median of $25,385 to complete their Marine Science program here. Read the full report on Hawaii Pacific University
University Of Maine did well this year, earning the #12 position. University Of Maine is a public school based in Orono, ME. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete their Marine Science program here. More on University Of Maine
University Of South Alabama came in at #13 in this year's ranking. More on University Of South Alabama
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #14 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #15 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #16 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
University Of Alaska Anchorage did well this year, earning the #17 position. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #18 in this year's ranking. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #19 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about St Marys College Of Maryland
Eckerd College
Eckerd College did well this year, earning the #20 position. Read more about Eckerd College
University Of Rhode Island ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. More on University Of Rhode Island
University Of Southern California placed #22 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Southern California profile
Oregon State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Get the full Oregon State University report
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #24 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Georgia placed #25 among Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Georgia profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also placed among the very best this year:
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo report
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Texas A And M University College Station did well this year, earning the #28 position. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
Juniata College
Juniata College ranked #29 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Juniata College
University Of California Davis did well this year, earning the #30 position. Get the full University Of California Davis report
Florida Keys Community College placed #31 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
College Of Micronesia Fsm placed #32 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full College Of Micronesia Fsm report
University Of Florida ranked #33 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of Florida
American Samoa Community College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. More on American Samoa Community College
Rowan University
Rowan University placed #35 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full Rowan University report
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington did well this year, earning the #36 position. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
California State University Stanislaus ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Marine Science schools. Read the full report on California State University Stanislaus
College Of The Marshall Islands placed #38 among Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on College Of The Marshall Islands
Western Washington University did well this year, earning the #39 position. See the full Western Washington University profile
Maine Maritime Academy did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on Maine Maritime Academy
Cape Fear Community College landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Cape Fear Community College
Related Marine Science Rankings
See rankings for 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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).