2026 Best Value Marine Science Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Science programs programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 41 institutions by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed schools to build this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Marine Science Schools in the United States
Explore the best-value schools below:
Leading the list is California State University Monterey Bay, our #1 best-value Marine Science school in the United States. This public school is set in Seaside, CA. In-state tuition and fees average $7,779, with out-of-state students paying around $20,379. Typical Marine Science student debt is $17,800. Median earnings reach $59,247 ten years out. Set against $17,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%. Get the full California State University Monterey Bay report
You'll get strong value at San Jose State University, which ranked #2 this year. Located in San Jose, CA, San Jose State University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, while out-of-state students pay about $21,010. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $78,988. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. Read the full report on San Jose State University
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical Marine Science student debt is $21,275. Graduates go on to earn a median of $75,121 ten years after entry. Set against $21,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 27% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
You'll get strong value at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #4 this year. Based in Edinburg, TX, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. The University Of Texas Pan American Marine Science students take on a median of $14,694 in debt. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $49,620. Set against $14,694 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%. More on The University Of Texas Pan American
A rank of #5 makes Texas A And M University Corpus Christi one of the best values in the United States. Based in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,748, compared with $20,794 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $25,508 in student loans. Median earnings reach $51,865 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%. Get the full Texas A And M University Corpus Christi report
Stony Brook University placed #6 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. This public school is set in Stony Brook, NY. In-state tuition and fees run about $10,931, compared with $32,741 for out-of-state students. Stony Brook University Marine Science students take on a median of $20,537 in debt. Median earnings reach $74,502 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 49%. See the full Stony Brook University profile
Florida Atlantic University placed #7 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Based in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,879, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Florida Atlantic University Marine Science students take on a median of $20,212 in debt. Median earnings reach $56,746 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 66%. Read more about Florida Atlantic University
Nova Southeastern University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,700. Graduates carry a median of $25,021 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,209 ten years after entry. Set against $25,021 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Nova Southeastern University
San Francisco State University landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. This public school is set in San Francisco, CA. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, with out-of-state students paying around $20,446. Graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $68,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. San Francisco State University admits about 96% of applicants. Read the full report on San Francisco State University
University Of Massachusetts Boston landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public school based in Boston, MA. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,898, while out-of-state students pay about $38,115. Students borrow a median of $26,236 to complete their Marine Science program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $65,865 ten years after entry. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Boston has an acceptance rate of 84%. See the full University Of Massachusetts Boston profile
Hawaii Pacific University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Set in Honolulu, HI, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $34,392. Graduates carry a median of $25,385 in student loans. Median earnings reach $59,593 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. Get the full Hawaii Pacific University report
University Of Maine offered strong value this year, earning the #12 position. This public school is set in Orono, ME. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. Typical Marine Science student debt is $27,000. Graduates go on to earn a median of $48,653 ten years after entry. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%. See the full University Of Maine profile
Rowan University
Rowan University landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Rowan University
Juniata College
Juniata College landed the #14 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Juniata College profile
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #15 in this year's value ranking. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
University Of Georgia placed #16 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Georgia
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. See the full Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus profile
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Get the full Texas A And M University College Station report
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #19 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell report
Cape Fear Community College placed #20 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full Cape Fear Community College profile
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Amherst
University Of Rhode Island placed #22 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about University Of Rhode Island
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington placed #23 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of North Carolina At Wilmington profile
Eckerd College
Eckerd College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about Eckerd College
Oregon State University came in at #25 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Oregon State University report
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Science Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value:
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #26 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. More on Ohio State University Main Campus
College Of Micronesia Fsm offered strong value this year, earning the #27 position. Read more about College Of Micronesia Fsm
University Of California Davis ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about University Of California Davis
University Of Southern California landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Southern California
University Of South Alabama landed the #30 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on University Of South Alabama
University Of Florida ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Get the full University Of Florida report
Maine Maritime Academy ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Maine Maritime Academy
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #33 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
University Of Alaska Anchorage placed #34 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Alaska Anchorage profile
Western Washington University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read more about Western Washington University
Florida Keys Community College came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Florida Keys Community College report
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth placed #37 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. See the full University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth profile
California State University Stanislaus landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full California State University Stanislaus report
St Marys College Of Maryland came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read more about St Marys College Of Maryland
University Of Alaska Fairbanks offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. See the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks profile
American Samoa Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full American Samoa Community College profile
Best Value Marine Science Schools by Degree Level
See the best values at each degree level:
- Best Value Marine Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Marine Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 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 · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 41 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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