2026 Best Value Marine Science Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Science certificate 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 evaluated 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 Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat The University Of Texas At Austin this year in the United States. Located in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical Marine Science student debt is $21,275. The University Of Texas At Austin alumni report median earnings of $75,121 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
A rank of #2 makes University Of Massachusetts Amherst one of the best values in the United States. Set in Amherst, MA, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Typical Marine Science student debt is $25,234. Median earnings reach $71,631 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Massachusetts Amherst has an acceptance rate of 60%. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
You'll get strong value at San Jose State University, which ranked #3 this year. More on San Jose State University
A rank of #4 makes Nova Southeastern University one of the best values in the United States. See the full Nova Southeastern University profile
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, University Of California Davis landed the #5 spot. Read the full report on University Of California Davis
University Of South Alabama came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
Hawaii Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
St Marys College Of Maryland ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on St Marys College Of Maryland
University Of Southern California came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Florida Atlantic University came in at #11 in this year's value ranking. See the full Florida Atlantic University profile
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
The University Of Texas Pan American offered strong value this year, earning the #13 position. Read more about The University Of Texas Pan American
Juniata College
Juniata College ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Juniata College
Florida Keys Community College came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. See the full Florida Keys Community College profile
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Texas A And M University College Station
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #17 position. Get the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus report
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of Maine came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Maine
University Of Rhode Island placed #20 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
College Of Micronesia Fsm ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full College Of Micronesia Fsm report
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks report
University Of Georgia offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read more about University Of Georgia
University Of Florida offered strong value this year, earning the #24 position. Read the full report on University Of Florida
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Science Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
California State University Monterey Bay placed #26 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about California State University Monterey Bay
San Francisco State University ranked #27 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. More on San Francisco State University
Rowan University
Rowan University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Rowan University report
California State University Stanislaus offered strong value this year, earning the #29 position. More on California State University Stanislaus
University Of Massachusetts Lowell ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi report
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #32 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Cape Fear Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Cape Fear Community College
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Boston report
College Of The Marshall Islands landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about College Of The Marshall Islands
Western Washington University landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Western Washington University
American Samoa Community College placed #37 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full American Samoa Community College profile
Oregon State University placed #38 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about Oregon State University
Eckerd College
Eckerd College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Eckerd College
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #40 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alaska Anchorage report
Stony Brook University placed #41 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about Stony Brook University
Related Marine Science Value Rankings
Explore other degree levels:
- Best Value Marine Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Marine Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Bachelor’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
The ranking above is published by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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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