by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Marine Biology involves the study of Marine Biology And Biological Oceanography. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Ecology And Behavior Of Microbes, Plants, And Animals Inhabiting Oceans, Coastal Waters, And Saltwater Wetlands And Their Interactions With The Physical Environment. Includes Instruction In Chemical, Physical, And Geological Oceanography; Molecular, Cellular, And Biochemical Studies; Marine Microbiology; Marine Botany; Ichthyology; Mammalogy; Marine Population Dynamics And Biodiversity; Reproductive Biology; Studies Of Specific Species, Phyla, Habitats, And Ecosystems; Marine Paleocology And Palentology; And Applications To Fields Such As Fisheries Science And Biotechnology. Read on to learn the key facts every marine biology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering marine biology programs.
Across the country, marine biology draws strong interest, with 2,375 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Marine Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 84 schools to determine the best overall colleges for marine biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of marine biology programs later in this article.
Studies in Marine Biology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations marine biology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a marine biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a marine biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several marine biology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 21 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,921 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 360 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 73 |
People currently working in careers related to marine biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.0% |
| Master’s degree | 20.9% |
| Post-doctoral training | 16.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 12.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in marine biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying marine biology prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to marine biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marine biology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Biological Technicians | 224,048 | 12.8% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | 159,217 | -1.2% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of marine biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for marine biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers marine biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biological Technicians | $100,160 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $55,554 |
With 84 different marine biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased marine biology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in marine biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,053 |
| Ecology | 1,201 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 151 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
| Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
