by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer covers Marine Science/merchant Marine Officer. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Serve As Captains, Executive Officers, Engineers And Ranking Mates On Commercially Licensed Inland, Coastal And Ocean-Going Vessels. Includes Instruction In Maritime Traditions And Law, Maritime Policy, Economics And Management Of Commercial Marine Operations, Basic Naval Architecture And Engineering, Shipboard Power Systems Engineering, Crew Supervision, And Administrative Procedures. Continue reading for the important information every marine science/merchant marine officer major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering marine science/merchant marine officer programs.
Across the country, marine science/merchant marine officer is a widely-pursued major, with 561 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer Schools ranking analyzes these 9 schools to determine the best overall colleges for marine science/merchant marine officer students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of marine science/merchant marine officer programs later in this article.
Coursework for Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations marine science/merchant marine officer graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a marine science/merchant marine officer program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a marine science/merchant marine officer major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several marine science/merchant marine officer 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 526 |
People currently working in careers related to marine science/merchant marine officer tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 42.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 18.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 16.8% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.7% |
| Some college courses | 7.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.4% |
| Master’s degree | 0.1% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in marine science/merchant marine officer careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in marine science/merchant marine officer opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to marine science/merchant marine officer.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marine science/merchant marine officer.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | 1,512,311 | 3.1% |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | 1,041,739 | -0.1% |
| Ship Engineers | 946,411 | -3.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of marine science/merchant marine officer graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,096 |
| 4 years | $58,110 |
| 5 years | $66,829 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for marine science/merchant marine officer graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers marine science/merchant marine officer grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | $67,056 |
| Ship Engineers | $67,019 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $27,869 |
With 9 different marine science/merchant marine officer programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased marine science/merchant marine officer school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in marine science/merchant marine officer, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Diver, Professional and Instructor | 539 |
| Marine Transportation, Other | 58 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
