2026 Best Value Marine Biology Schools in South Carolina
[Marine Biology](/majors/biological-biomedical-sciences/ecology-evolution-systematics-population-biology/marine-biology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value marine biology schools.
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2026 Best Value Marine Biology Schools in South Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in marine biology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Marine Biology Schools
Coastal Carolina University tops our 2026 list of the best value marine biology schools in South Carolina. Located in the city of Conway, Coastal Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,640, while out-of-state students pay about $29,628. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the marine biology program here. Soon after graduation, marine biology degree recipients from Coastal Carolina University generally make around $38,586. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Coastal Carolina University admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes College Of Charleston one of the best values for marine biology. Set in the city of Charleston, College Of Charleston is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,978, with out-of-state students paying around $38,296. Marine Biology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Early-career marine biology graduates make about $40,222. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Students looking for strong value in marine biology will find it at University Of South Carolina Columbia, which ranked #3. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Marine Biology graduates carry a median of $18,896 in student loans. Early-career marine biology graduates make about $40,525. Set against $18,896 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 60%.
More Marine Biology Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
