Fisheries Sciences programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 29 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best fisheries sciences schools.
Develop a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set to solve complex environmental problems like climate change, alternative energy and sustainability with a specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
The school you choose for fisheries sciences can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Fisheries Sciences Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
We offer several rankings, including this Best Fisheries Sciences Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Develop a broad-based interdisciplinary skill set to solve complex environmental problems like climate change, alternative energy and sustainability with a specialized online degree from Southern New Hampshire University.
Best Schools for Fisheries Sciences in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the fisheries sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, our #1 school for fisheries sciences. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public school located in the city of Blacksburg. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fisheries sciences degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University graduates carry a median of $23,393 in student loans.
Read more about the fisheries sciences program at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
A rank of #2 makes University Of Florida one of the top schools for fisheries sciences. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 33 fisheries sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Florida in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $53,216 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,669 to complete this degree.
See the full fisheries sciences program report for University Of Florida
Purdue University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in fisheries sciences, ranking #3. Purdue University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. About 52 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Purdue University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $31,317 in their early career. Purdue University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in fisheries sciences from Purdue University Main Campus
A rank of #4 makes University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point one of the top schools for fisheries sciences. Located in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a moderately-sized public university. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 45 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point in the most recent year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $42,297 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,399.
Get the full fisheries sciences details for University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Texas A And M University College Station came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best fisheries sciences schools. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 12 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their fisheries sciences degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $33,410 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,114 to complete this degree.
Get the full fisheries sciences details for Texas A And M University College Station
University Of Idaho landed the #6 spot for fisheries sciences this year. This large public university is located in the town of Moscow. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 11 fisheries sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Idaho in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fisheries sciences degree from University Of Idaho earn around $43,246 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,844 to complete this degree.
See the full fisheries sciences program report for University Of Idaho
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill came in at #7 for fisheries sciences this year. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Cobleskill. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 21 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, fisheries sciences degree recipients from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill generally make around $31,793. Typical student debt for the program is $23,490.
Get the full fisheries sciences details for Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill
University Of Rhode Island ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best fisheries sciences schools. University Of Rhode Island is a very large public school located in the suburb of Kingston. About 72% of students finish within six years. University Of Rhode Island awarded about 17 fisheries sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their fisheries sciences degree from University Of Rhode Island earn around $52,821 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,432.
See the full fisheries sciences program report for University Of Rhode Island
Hocking College landed the #9 spot for fisheries sciences this year. Located in the rural area of Nelsonville, Hocking College is a mid-sized public university. Hocking College awarded about 10 fisheries sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Fisheries Sciences graduates of Hocking College earn a median of $37,713 early in their careers. Hocking College graduates carry a median of $16,535 in student loans.
Get the full fisheries sciences details for Hocking College
Humboldt State University landed the #10 spot for fisheries sciences this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Arcata. Humboldt State University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 16 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Humboldt State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $29,862 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $19,129 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fisheries sciences program at Humboldt State University
Oregon State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best fisheries sciences schools. Located in the city of Corvallis, Oregon State University is a very large public university. Oregon State University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 72 fisheries sciences students who graduated with this degree at Oregon State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, fisheries sciences degree recipients from Oregon State University generally make around $33,314. Oregon State University graduates carry a median of $33,518 in student loans.
See the full fisheries sciences program report for Oregon State University
University Of Alaska Southeast earned the #12 position for fisheries sciences this year. University Of Alaska Southeast is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Juneau. The six-year graduation rate is 21%. About 28 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Alaska Southeast in the most recent year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $63,014 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,458 to complete this degree.
Read more about the fisheries sciences program at University Of Alaska Southeast
Lake Superior State University earned the #13 position for fisheries sciences this year. Located in the town of Sault Ste Marie, Lake Superior State University is a small public university. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Lake Superior State University awarded about 16 fisheries sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $34,729 in their early career. Lake Superior State University graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans.
See the full fisheries sciences program report for Lake Superior State University
Northern Michigan University came in at #14 for fisheries sciences this year. Northern Michigan University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Marquette. About 53% of students finish within six years. About 17 fisheries sciences degrees were awarded at Northern Michigan University in the most recent year. Graduates of the fisheries sciences program make about $31,386 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,875.
Get the full fisheries sciences details for Northern Michigan University
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 29 schools evaluated.
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).
