2026 Best Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Marine Science master’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 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.
So you can compare your options, Grad Degree evaluated 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 Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Leading the list is California State University Monterey Bay, our #1 best-value Marine Science school in the United States. Located in Seaside, CA, California State University Monterey Bay is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,779, compared with $20,379 for out-of-state students. Typical Marine Science student debt is $17,800. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,247 ten years after entry. Set against $17,800 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted. Read more about California State University Monterey Bay
Out of the 41 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, San Jose State University landed the #2 spot. This public school is set in San Jose, CA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,410, with out-of-state students paying around $21,010. San Jose State University alumni report median earnings of $78,988 a decade after entry. About 85% of those who apply are admitted. More on San Jose State University
A rank of #3 makes The University Of Texas Pan American one of the best values in the United States. Located in Edinburg, TX, The University Of Texas Pan American is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Typical Marine Science student debt is $14,694. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $49,620. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants. Get the full The University Of Texas Pan American report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #4 place in the United States. Set in Austin, TX, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Graduates carry a median of $21,275 in student loans. The University Of Texas At Austin alumni report median earnings of $75,121 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $21,275 median debt. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants. Get the full The University Of Texas At Austin report
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Stony Brook University earned it the #5 place in the United States. This public school is set in Stony Brook, NY. In-state tuition and fees average $10,931, while out-of-state students pay about $32,741. Graduates carry a median of $20,537 in student loans. Median earnings reach $74,502 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $20,537 median debt. About 49% of those who apply are admitted. Read more about Stony Brook University
Texas A And M University Corpus Christi landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in Corpus Christi, TX, Texas A And M University Corpus Christi is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,748 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,794. Graduates carry a median of $25,508 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,865. That is a strong return on a $25,508 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted. Read more about Texas A And M University Corpus Christi
Florida Atlantic University landed the #7 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Boca Raton, FL, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,879 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Florida Atlantic University Marine Science students take on a median of $20,212 in debt. Florida Atlantic University alumni report median earnings of $56,746 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,212 median debt. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted. Get the full Florida Atlantic University report
Nova Southeastern University came in at #8 in this year's value ranking. Nova Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit school based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. In-state tuition and fees average $38,700. The median Marine Science program debt is $25,021. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,209. That is a strong return on a $25,021 median debt. Nova Southeastern University has an acceptance rate of 73%. Get the full Nova Southeastern University report
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. In-state tuition and fees run about $7,846, compared with $20,446 for out-of-state students. San Francisco State University Marine Science students take on a median of $17,024 in debt. Median earnings reach $68,077 ten years out. Set against $17,024 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. San Francisco State University has an acceptance rate of 96%. Get the full San Francisco State University report
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #10 in this year's value ranking. Based in Boston, MA, University Of Massachusetts Boston is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,898, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. The median Marine Science program debt is $26,236. University Of Massachusetts Boston alumni report median earnings of $65,865 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Boston
Hawaii Pacific University landed the #11 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Honolulu, HI, Hawaii Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,392. Graduates carry a median of $25,385 in student loans. Median earnings reach $59,593 ten years out. Set against $25,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. About 86% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Hawaii Pacific University profile
University Of Maine landed the #12 spot for value in the United States this year. University Of Maine is a public school based in Orono, ME. Students from in state pay about $13,326 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. The median Marine Science program debt is $27,000. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $48,653. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Maine admits about 97% of applicants. Read more about University Of Maine
University Of Southern California landed the #13 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Southern California report
Western Washington University placed #14 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on Western Washington University
College Of Micronesia Fsm ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. See the full College Of Micronesia Fsm profile
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #16 in this year's value ranking. See the full Ohio State University Main Campus profile
Maine Maritime Academy landed the #17 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Maine Maritime Academy report
University Of Alaska Anchorage landed the #18 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Alaska Anchorage report
University Of North Carolina At Wilmington came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of North Carolina At Wilmington
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo landed the #20 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Rowan University
Rowan University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Rowan University profile
University Of South Alabama came in at #22 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of South Alabama report
University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. More on University Of Massachusetts Dartmouth
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #24 in this year's value ranking. More on University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Texas A And M University College Station offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Rest of the Top 15% Best-Value Marine Science Master’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Florida Keys Community College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. Read the full report on Florida Keys Community College
University Of Alaska Fairbanks placed #27 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Alaska Fairbanks report
California State University Stanislaus placed #28 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read the full report on California State University Stanislaus
University Of Florida landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full University Of Florida report
Oregon State University came in at #30 in this year's value ranking. See the full Oregon State University profile
University Of Georgia placed #31 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Get the full University Of Georgia report
University Of California Davis landed the #32 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full University Of California Davis profile
University Of Rhode Island came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. Get the full University Of Rhode Island report
University Of Massachusetts Lowell offered strong value this year, earning the #34 position. Read more about University Of Massachusetts Lowell
Juniata College
Juniata College landed the #35 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Juniata College report
Eckerd College
Eckerd College landed the #36 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Eckerd College
St Marys College Of Maryland placed #37 among the best-value Marine Science schools in the United States. Read more about St Marys College Of Maryland
College Of The Marshall Islands came in at #38 in this year's value ranking. See the full College Of The Marshall Islands profile
Cape Fear Community College came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Cape Fear Community College
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. Read the full report on Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
American Samoa Community College ranked #41 on our 2026 list of the best-value Marine Science schools. More on American Samoa Community College
Related Marine Science Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Marine Science Schools (All Levels)
- 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 Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
The ranking above is published by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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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