[Marine Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/marine-science/marine-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 41 schools to find the best return on investment for marine sciences students.
DEBUG: offers_url is valid, proceeding to fetch data
DEBUG: No offers_data.offers found, showing generic ESYOH widget
Finding the Best Value Marine Sciences School for You
The right marine sciences school can pay off for years to come. That is why we built our Best Value Marine Sciences Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Marine Sciences Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
University Of Florida tops our 2026 list of the best value marine sciences schools in the United States. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for marine sciences graduates is $17,669. Soon after graduation, marine sciences degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Florida Atlantic University one of the best values for marine sciences. Located in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,879, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,212 in student loans. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $49,340. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Florida Atlantic University admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in marine sciences will find it at San Francisco State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,024 to complete the marine sciences program here. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $50,955. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in marine sciences will find it at University Of Georgia, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for marine sciences graduates is $21,792. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $53,546. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Micronesia Fsm earned it the #5 place for marine sciences. Based in Pohnpei, FM, College Of Micronesia Fsm is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,050. Median earnings reach $24,651 ten years out. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Davis earned the #6 position for value in marine sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,804, compared with $47,692 for out-of-state students. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans. Marine Sciences graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,404 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
California State University Monterey Bay came in at #7 for value in marine sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,779 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,800 to complete the marine sciences program here. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $27,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California State University Monterey Bay admits about 97% of applicants.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #8 among the best values for marine sciences. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Students borrow a median of $19,273 to complete the marine sciences program here. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $27,337. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo admits about 31% of applicants.
University Of Maine ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value marine sciences schools. Set in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,756 for out-of-state students. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Marine Sciences graduates of University Of Maine earn a median of $29,243 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Stony Brook University landed the #10 spot for marine sciences value this year. Stony Brook University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Stony Brook. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Marine Sciences graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marine sciences degree recipients from Stony Brook University generally make around $60,047. Set against $20,537 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 49%.
Western Washington University landed the #11 spot for marine sciences value this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,582 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,707. Students borrow a median of $20,361 to complete the marine sciences program here. Early-career marine sciences graduates make about $41,118. Set against $20,361 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Hawaii Pacific University placed #12 among the best values for marine sciences. Hawaii Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Honolulu. In-state tuition and fees average $34,392. Typical student debt for marine sciences graduates is $25,385. Soon after graduation, marine sciences degree recipients from Hawaii Pacific University generally make around $49,182. That is a strong return on a $25,385 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 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 · 41 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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).
[Marine Sciences](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/marine-science/marine-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
