2026 Best Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Science master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 41 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect 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 analyzed 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
For return on investment, no school beat California State University Monterey Bay this year in the United States. Set 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. Typical Marine Science student debt is $17,800. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,247. Set against $17,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. See the full California State University Monterey Bay profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Jose State University earned it the #2 place in the United States. San Jose State University is a public school based in San Jose, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, compared with $21,010 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $78,988 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 85%. See the full San Jose State University profile
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas Pan American earned it the #3 place in the United States. Located in Edinburg, TX, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, compared with $19,645 for out-of-state students. The median Marine Science program debt is $14,694. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,620. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants. Read the full report on The University Of Texas Pan American
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas At Austin, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,688, while out-of-state students pay about $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $75,121. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%. More on The University Of Texas At Austin
Stony Brook University came in at #5 on this year's best-value Marine Science ranking in the United States. Located in Stony Brook, NY, Stony Brook University is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Stony Brook University Marine Science students take on a median of $20,537 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $74,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stony Brook University has an acceptance rate of 49%. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi came in at #6 in this year's value ranking. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public school based in Corpus Christi, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,748, with out-of-state students paying around $20,794. Graduates carry a median of $25,508 in student loans. Median earnings reach $51,865 ten years out. Set against $25,508 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M University Corpus Christi admits about 89% of applicants. Read the full report on Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
Florida Atlantic University came in at #7 in this year's value ranking. Set in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Typical Marine Science student debt is $20,212. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $56,746. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. See the full Florida Atlantic University profile
Nova Southeastern University placed #8 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,700 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete their Marine Science program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $59,209. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Nova Southeastern University admits about 73% of applicants. Read more about Nova Southeastern University
San Francisco State University placed #9 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. San Francisco State University is a public school based in San Francisco, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. San Francisco State University Marine Science students take on a median of $17,024 in debt. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $68,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. More on San Francisco State University
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Typical Marine Science student debt is $26,236. University Of Massachusetts Boston alumni report median earnings of $65,865 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 84% of those who apply are admitted. More on University Of Massachusetts Boston
Hawaii Pacific University offered strong value this year, earning the #11 position. Based in Honolulu, HI, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,392. Students borrow a median of $25,385 to complete their Marine Science program here. Hawaii Pacific University alumni report median earnings of $59,593 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Hawaii Pacific University has an acceptance rate of 86%. More on Hawaii Pacific University
University Of Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Orono, ME. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,326, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. University Of Maine Marine Science students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. University Of Maine alumni report median earnings of $48,653 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. About 97% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about University Of Maine
University Of California Davis ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of California Davis
Western Washington University came in at #14 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Western Washington University report
University Of Rhode Island landed the #15 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of Rhode Island
American Samoa Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #16 position. Read more about American Samoa Community College
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth report
College Of The Marshall Islands placed #18 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. More on College Of The Marshall Islands
California State University Stanislaus placed #19 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full California State University Stanislaus report
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
University Of Georgia came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Georgia profile
Ohio State University Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #23 position. Read the full report on Ohio State University Main Campus
Rowan University
Rowan University came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on Rowan University
University Of South Alabama placed #25 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of South Alabama profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
St Marys College Of Maryland landed the #26 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on St Marys College Of Maryland
University Of Florida came in at #27 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Florida profile
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #28 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Eckerd College
Eckerd College placed #29 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full Eckerd College profile
Oregon State University landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Oregon State University
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
University Of Alaska Anchorage ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full University Of Alaska Anchorage profile
Maine Maritime Academy came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full Maine Maritime Academy profile
University Of Massachusetts Lowell came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. See the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell profile
Cape Fear Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Cape Fear Community College report
Juniata College
Juniata College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Juniata College profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #37 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Amherst report
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. More on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
Florida Keys Community College landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Florida Keys Community College
College Of Micronesia Fsm placed #40 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full College Of Micronesia Fsm profile
University Of Southern California ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Related Marine Science Value Rankings
Explore 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 Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Graduate Certificate 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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