Marine Sciences Schools and Programs in The United States

Marine Sciences Studies in The United States

Marine sciences cover the study of the ocean and its coasts: the organisms that live there, the chemistry and physics of seawater, the seabed, and the way people use and manage marine resources. In the United States the subject appears under several names, mainly marine science, oceanography, marine biology and marine affairs. It is a science degree built on biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics, with a large share of laboratory work, fieldwork and time on research vessels.

How the degree is organised

According to EducationUSA, the US bachelor's degree is usually completed in four years of full-time study and is awarded after a specified number of credits in a major field. The two main graduate degrees are the master's degree and the doctoral degree, and both combine research and coursework.

• Bachelor's degree (usually a Bachelor of Science) in marine science, oceanography or marine biology
• Master's degree (MS), research-based or professionally oriented
• PhD, the usual route into research leadership

Examples from the schools' own pages: the University of Maine's School of Marine Sciences offers a B.S. in Marine Science with the option of specialising in aquaculture, marine biology or physical science, and graduate degrees in Marine Biology, Marine Policy and Oceanography. Its undergraduate programme includes a Semester-by-the-Sea and ends with an individual capstone research project. The University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science has six undergraduate majors, among them marine science, oceanography, marine biology and ecology, and marine affairs, as well as six PhD and MS programmes and a Master of Professional Science with 14 degree tracks. Jacksonville University offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine Science and a Master of Science in Marine Studies. At the University of Connecticut the Department of Marine Sciences, located at the Avery Point campus on Long Island Sound, offers an MS and a PhD in Oceanography. The University of Washington's School of Oceanography teaches an oceanography major and works in physical, biological and chemical oceanography and marine geology and geophysics.

Students in other majors can also spend time at a marine station. The Duke University Marine Lab in Beaufort, North Carolina, is a year-round coastal campus where Duke students from any major can study for a summer, fall or spring semester.

Admission and visa

Application requirements vary greatly from one institution to another. For undergraduate admission EducationUSA lists secondary school transcripts with English translations, standardised test scores where required to assess academic ability and English proficiency, recommendation letters and a personal statement, with applications typically due between November and January for a start the following September.

International students need a student visa. The F visa is for study at an accredited US college or university; the institution must be certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and issues the Form I-20 for the visa application.

Costs and funding

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, average tuition and fees at four-year institutions in 2022-23 were $9,800 at public institutions (the in-state rate; non-residents usually pay more) and $40,700 at private nonprofit institutions. At graduate level, EducationUSA notes that working as a teaching or research assistant in exchange for a tuition waiver, a stipend or both is very common for PhD students.

Where to study marine sciences in the United States

Most of the schools are on or near the coast. On the Atlantic side they include the University of Maine in Orono, Boston University and Suffolk University in Boston, the University of Connecticut, Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Duke University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina, and Jacksonville University and the University of Miami in Florida. On the Pacific coast there are the University of Washington in Seattle, the University of Oregon in Eugene and the University of California Santa Barbara, and in the Pacific itself Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu. Community colleges such as Monterey Peninsula College in California and Broward College in Fort Lauderdale offer a two-year start. Teaching is in English.

Careers

Graduates work in research, environmental monitoring and consultancy, fisheries and aquaculture, conservation, government agencies and education. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not report marine scientists as one occupation; they fall under several groups:

• Geoscientists, a group that includes oceanographers: median annual wage of $101,920 in May 2025, employment projected to grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035
• Zoologists and wildlife biologists, a group that includes marine biologists: $76,780 and 4 percent
• Environmental scientists and specialists: $82,220 and 6 percent

The BLS adds that zoologists and wildlife biologists typically need a bachelor's degree for entry-level positions, may need a master's degree for higher-level jobs and typically need a PhD to lead research projects.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between marine biology and oceanography?

Marine biologists study fish and other wildlife that inhabit the oceans. Oceanographers study the motion and circulation of ocean waters and their physical and chemical properties. A marine science degree usually combines both.

How long does a marine science degree take in the United States?

A bachelor's degree usually takes four years of full-time study. Master's degrees and PhDs follow the bachelor's.

Do I need a PhD to work in marine science?

Not for every job. According to the BLS, a bachelor's degree is typical for entry-level positions, while a PhD is typically needed to lead research projects.