2026 Best Value Marine Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Science bachelor’s degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 41 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Marine Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
California State University Monterey Bay tops our 2026 ranking of the best-value Marine Science bachelor's degree schools in the United States. Based in Seaside, CA, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Students borrow a median of $17,800 to complete their Marine Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,247 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Monterey Bay admits about 97% of applicants. See the full California State University Monterey Bay profile
You'll get strong value at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, which ranked #2 this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school based in San Luis Obispo, CA. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,161, compared with $33,230 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete their Marine Science program here. Median earnings reach $90,768 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Texas A And M University College Station landed the #3 spot. This public school is set in College Station, TX. Students from in state pay about $12,995 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,124. Students borrow a median of $20,031 to complete their Marine Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $72,097 ten years after entry. Set against $20,031 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University College Station has an acceptance rate of 57%. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
University Of Florida came in at #4 on this year's best-value Marine Science ranking in the United States. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. 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. Median earnings reach $71,588 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants. See the full University Of Florida profile
You'll get strong value at University Of California Davis, which ranked #5 this year. Set in Davis, CA, University Of California Davis is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, while out-of-state students pay about $47,692. The median Marine Science program debt is $14,404. Median earnings reach $80,838 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of California Davis
University Of Maine came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Set in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. University Of Maine has an acceptance rate of 97%. See the full University Of Maine profile
San Jose State University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. See the full San Jose State University profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #8 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Alaska Fairbanks
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #9 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of North Carolina At Wilmington report
Rowan University
Rowan University placed #10 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full Rowan University report
St Marys College Of Maryland ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about St Marys College Of Maryland
The University Of Texas Pan American offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Pan American
Stony Brook University offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. See the full Stony Brook University profile
San Francisco State University landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
American Samoa Community College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. More on American Samoa Community College
University Of Georgia offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
College Of The Marshall Islands landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about College Of The Marshall Islands
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #18 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #19 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
University Of South Alabama came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of South Alabama
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi offered strong value this year, earning the #21 position. Read more about Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
California State University Stanislaus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about California State University Stanislaus
University Of Massachusetts Boston ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Boston report
Oregon State University offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read more about Oregon State University
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #25 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #26 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. More on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Hawaii Pacific University placed #27 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. More on Hawaii Pacific University
University Of Southern California landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of Southern California profile
Ohio State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
Florida Keys Community College landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Florida Keys Community College
University Of Rhode Island came in at #31 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
Maine Maritime Academy offered strong value this year, earning the #32 position. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #33 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. More on University Of Alaska Anchorage
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. More on Eckerd College
College Of Micronesia Fsm landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on College Of Micronesia Fsm
Juniata College
Juniata College placed #36 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full Juniata College report
Nova Southeastern University came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Nova Southeastern University
Western Washington University offered strong value this year, earning the #38 position. See the full Western Washington University profile
Florida Atlantic University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full Florida Atlantic University profile
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #40 in this year's value ranking. Read more about The University Of Texas At Austin
Cape Fear Community College landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Cape Fear Community College report
Related Marine Science Value Rankings
Compare value rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Value Marine Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Marine Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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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