The ocean is home to countless curious creatures, from sea urchins to hammerhead sharks, and electric eels to sea turtles. If you’re interested in how marine creatures live and interact with their environment, you might consider studying marine biology at a university.
An education in marine biology is both rewarding and exciting, offering a multitude of areas to specialize in. Today we’ll discuss some of the best marine biology colleges for your undergraduate and graduate education, as well as popular majors of study for each one. By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid understanding of the best schools for marine biology in 2022! But first, we’ll cover why marine biology is an important field of study. Let’s get started!
Why is Marine Biology an Important Field?
Most of the world is covered in water. Specifically, 71% of the world is water, and 96.5% of that water is oceans. The environment below the water’s surface hosts millions of ecosystems and interactions between marine animals, plants, and organisms, and affects the earth’s land environment as well.
The oceans support so many different kinds of life on Earth and studying the field allows us to learn more about and improve:
- Water Pollution
- Coral Reefs
- Air Quality and Carbon Dioxide Distribution
- Endangered and Invasive Species, Biodiversity
- Fishing Impact on Marine Life
- Water as an Energy Source (Tidal Energy)
Many of the top marine biology colleges cover many of the above topics through marine biology specializations. Without further ado, let’s dive into the best marine biology colleges in the US.
Best Marine Biology Colleges 2022
1. University of Miami
With an acceptance rate of about 33%, the University of Miami is a top contender in our list of the best marine biology schools. They offer a broad bachelor’s of science program in marine biology and ecology, with a huge range of specialization options. Tuition costs about $53,000 per year, making this school one of the most expensive of the colleges that offer marine biology.
Acceptance Rate: 33%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Located close to the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean and near the Florida Keys and Everglades, offering access to many unique marine ecosystems to study
✔ Wide range of program majors, including marine science, marine biology and ecology, marine affairs, and more.
❌ Expensive tuition
2. University of California
Another coastal university, UCLA has an impressive Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology that offers students a marine biology major. Being on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, UCLA offers students some of the most unique research opportunities and access to the ocean wildlife, an advantage making UCLA one of the best colleges for marine biology. In-state students will pay about $15,000 for tuition, while out-of-state students must pay closer to $37,000.
Acceptance Rate: 16%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Marine Biology Quarter offers a real-life marine biologist experience for students where they live at a field station, design projects, and test their experiments and hypotheses
✔ UCLA is known for helping undergraduate students publish their work in major scientific journals
3. Auburn University
Alabama students interested in colleges for marine biology don’t even need to leave their home state to study at one of the US’s most reputable universities. Ranked #1 for biology in Alabama, Auburn University is a member of organizations that host research programs, like the Organization for Tropical Studies and Dauphin Island Sea Lab, offering students unique opportunities to dive into their research and make valuable network contacts for career opportunities. In-state tuition costs $5,913, while out-of-state students must pay $15,993 per year.
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Offers field studies in Atlantic, Antarctic, Caribbean, tropical Indo-Pacific seas.
✔ Peaks of Excellence associates the school with many fish and wildlife organizations like the Alabama Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Genomics and Sequencing Laboratory, and the Molette Biology Laboratory for Environmental and Climate Change Studies
✔ Very affordable tuition, especially for in-state students
4. University of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire offers a comprehensive marine biology major: Marine, Estuarine, and Freshwater Biology Major. While this school doesn’t offer the same ocean residency programs as Miami or California, its proximity to lakes offers a unique specialty: freshwater.
Tuition sits at around $15,000 for domestic students, and $33,000 for out-of-state students. Moreover, students can take advantage of UNH’s partnership with Cornell University in its summer program at Appledore Islan’s Shoals Marine Laboratory.
Acceptance Rate: 85%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Freshwater marine biology focus
✔ Access to New Hampshire Seacoast, Lakes Region, and White Mountain National Forest
✔ More affordable than many other colleges with marine biology
5. Eckerd College
Located in Tampa Bay Florida, Eckerd College offers marine biology students unique access to the Gulf of Mexico. They also boast higher retention rates than the average for Florida universities, though tuition is high at $45,000 per year.
Students looking for a unique learning experience will adore Eckerd College’s boat classes, allowing students to study right on the water. They also offer a residency program on the Bermuda Islands.
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Small student population, allowing for more focused learning
✔ Unique boat setting for classes
❌ Private college, more expensive than others
6. University of Oregon
One of the University of Oregon’s leading attractions is the residency Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, located in coastal Charleston, Oregon. The school also offers the only marine biology degree in the US Pacific Northwest, attracting students from neighboring states. Common fields of study and courses include oceanography, zoology, Tropical Marine Biology, and Marine Birds and Mammals. In-state tuition costs about $11,000 per year, while out-of-state tuition costs about $37,000 per year.
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Small class sizes and field research and residency at the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
✔ Independent research and internship opportunities
7. University of Hawaii at Hilo
Can you think of a better place to study marine biology than in the middle of the Pacific Ocean? That’s the kind of ocean access you’ll receive when studying at the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Marine Biology Program. The school is unique in that it offers students either a BA or BSc in marine science, and allows students to take scuba diving and vessel trips throughout their tenure.
Some interesting courses of the program include marine monitoring techniques, marine debris in the Pacific, and biological oceanography. Student residents of Hawaii can expect to pay about $7,000 for tuition, while out-of-state students must pay around $20,000. The school also boasts a higher-than-average, 70% freshmen retention rate.
Acceptance Rate: 45%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Ideal environment for marine study and unique research opportunities
❌ Far flight for students that prefer to be closer to home throughout their studies
8. Boston University
Boston University is a private research university that has one of the country’s leading marine biology programs. Some popular fields of study include ocean exploration, tropical marine invertebrates, marine conservation, overfishing prevention, marine species extinction, biomimicry, and more. The school has well-established partnerships with various marine organizations like the New England Aquarium and the Sea Education Association. Tuition is quite expensive at $58,000 per year.
Acceptance Rate: 19%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Hands-on research opportunities
❌ Expensive tuition and competitive admissions
9. Samford University
Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Samford University is a great marine biology option for students that want a Baptist Christina approach to their studies. Samford offers an impressive summer component at the Dauphin Sea LabTuition costs about $35,000 for both in-state and out-of-state students at this private university.
Acceptance Rate: 84%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Small class sizes and high professor to student ratio
✔ Unique freshwater learning experiences around the city
10. Duke University
Along with the University of Hawaii, Duke University is one of the few colleges that offer marine biology as both a BA and BSc degree. The program also allows students to take one course as an independent study.
Something that sets Duke apart from the others is its attitude towards biology. The marine biology program isn’t distinct from biology itself, allowing students to gain a broader, more applicable education to both biology and marine biology research opportunities and employment. Some popular courses include a specific course about sea turtle biology and conservation, an abroad, tropical ecology course in Singapore, and comparative physiology of marine animals.
Acceptance Rate: 8%
Pros and Cons:
✔ Broad, applicable knowledge due to the school’s seeing marine biology as something within, not separate, from traditional biology.
✔ Reputable, ivy league university
❌ Expensive tuition
Conclusion
Marine biology is an exciting field for animal lovers and ocean
enthusiasts to pursue in university. Using the above list of the best marine biology colleges, take your time processing the differences between each school to narrow down contenders that best work for your goals.
Looking for financial aid to secure before you apply for a marine biology program? Check out our scholarships today!
Marine Biology Degree Programs in the U.S. (by State)
Alabama
Alabama State University BS [Marine Biology]
Auburn University [Marine Biology] BS [MS/PhD] Samford University [Marine Science] BS, [Environmental Management] MS
University of Alabama [Marine Science/Biology] BS, [Marine Science] MS
University of North Alabama [Marine Biology] BA, BS
University of South Alabama [Biology – Marine Biology Concentration] BS, [Marine Science] MS, PhD
University of West Alabama [Marine Biology] BS, [Conservation Biology] MS
Alaska
Alaska Pacific University [Marine Biology] BA, BS
University of Alaska Fairbanks [Fisheries] BA, [Fisheries or Ocean Sciences] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
University of Alaska Southeast [Marine Biology, Fisheries & Ocean Sciences: Fisheries Science] BS
California
California Lutheran University [Biology Major focusing on research in marine biology] BA, BS
California State University, Long Beach BS, MS/PhD
California State University Monterey Bay [Biology] BS, [Marine Science] BS, [Marine Science] MS
California State University (Moss Landing Marine Laboratories) [Marine Science] MS
Humboldt State University [Biology with Marine Biology Major Concentration] BS, MS
San Diego State University [Ecology, Evolutionary Biology] BS, MS, PhD
San Francisco State University [Biology: Marine Biology concentration] BS, MS
San Jose State University [Biology: Marine Biology concentration] BS
Sonoma State University [Biology with a concentration in Marine Biology] BS, [Biology with concentrations such as Marine Ecology] MS
Stanford University/Hopkins Marine Station (undergraduate/graduate studies)
University of California Berkeley [Marine Science] BA, [Integrative Biology] BA, [Integrative Biology] PhD
University of California Los Angeles [Marine Biology] BS? [Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with Marine Biology specialization] MS, PhD
University of California Santa Barbara [Aquatic Biology, Biology, Zoology, etc.] BA/BS, [Marine Science] MS, PhD
University of California Santa Cruz [Marine Biology] BS, [Ocean Sciences: Biological Oceanography pathway] MS, PhD
University of California San Diego/Scripps Institution of Oceanography [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Biodiversity and Conservation] MS, PhD
University of San Diego [Environmental and Ocean Sciences with marine ecology pathway] BA, [Environmental and Ocean Sciences] MS
University of Southern California Dornsife [Marine Biology] Minor, Progressive Masters in Marine and Environmental Biology, MS, [Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography, Ocean Sciences] PhDs
Connecticut
University of New Haven [Marine Biology] BS
University of Connecticut [Marine Sciences + Marine Biology Minor] BA, BS, [Graduate Studies in Biological Oceanography]
Florida
Ave Maria University [Marine Biology] BS
Barry University [Biology (BS) Marine Biology concentration]
Eckerd College [Marine Science with Marine Biology track] BS
Florida Atlantic University [Biology] BS, [Marine Science & Oceanography] MS, [Biology] MS, [Marine Science & Oceanography] PhD
Florida Institute of Technology [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
Florida International University [Marine Biology] BS, [Biology] MS, PhD
Florida State University [Biology with Marine Biology track] BA/BS, [Biology] MS, PhD
Jacksonville University [Marine Science] BS?, [Marine Science] MS, MA
Nova Southeastern University [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Science] MS, [Marine Biology/Oceanography] PhD
Rollins College [Marine Biology] BS
Stetson University [Aquatic and Marine Biology] BS
University of Florida [Marine Sciences] BA/BA [Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences] MS, MFAS, PhD
University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science [Marine Biology & Ecology] BS, MS, PhD
University of South Florida [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Science] MS, PhD
University of Tampa [Marine Science/Biology (double major)] BS
University of West Florida [Marine Biology] BS, [Biology: Marine Biology expertise] MS
Georgia
Savannah State University [Marine Science] BS, MS
University of Georgia [Marine Sciences] BS, [Research or Applied Marine Studies tracks] MS, [Biological, chemical, or physical oceanography] Ph.D., [Marine Sciences] PhD
Guam
University of Guam [Biology] BS, MS – Marine Laboratory | Houk Lab
Hawaii
Hawai’i Pacific University [Marine Biology] BS, [Oceanography] BS, [Marine Science] MS
University of Hawai’i at Hilo [Marine Science] BA, BS, [Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science] MS
University of Hawai’i at Mãnoa [Marine Biology] BS, MS, PhD
Kansas
Southwestern College [Marine Biology] BS
Louisiana
Nicholls State University [Biology with Marine Biology concentration] BS, [Marine and Environmental Biology] MS
Maine
Maine Maritime Academy [Marine Biology] BS
Unity College [Marine Biology] BS
University of Maine [Marine Science + concentrations in Aquaculture or Oceanography] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
University of Maine at Machias [Marine Biology] BS
University of New England [Marine Sciences with Marine Biology track] BS, [Marine Sciences] MS
Maryland
University of Maryland [Biology] BS, [Marine-Estuarine-Environmental Sciences] MS, PhD
Massachusetts
Boston University [Marine Science] BA, [Marine Biology Program] MA, PhD
Northeastern University [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Biology] MS
Salem State College [Biology with Marine Biology concentration] BS
Suffolk University [Biology with Marine Science concentration] BA, BS
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth [Biology with Marine Biology option] BS, [Marine Science] MS, PhD
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Programs, Postdoctoral Programs
Mississippi
University of Southern Mississippi [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Science] BS, MS, PhD
Missouri
Northwest Missouri State University [Marine Biology] BS
New Hampshire
University of New Hampshire [Marine, Estuarine and Freshwater Biology] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University [Marine Biology] BS, [Biology] MS
Rutgers University [Marine Science with Marine Biology/Biological Oceanography option] BS, [Oceanography] MS, PhD
New York
Cornell University – [Ecology and Evolutionary Biology] BS, [Ecology and Evolutionary Biology] MS, PhD
Hofstra University [Biology with Marine Biology track] BS
State University of New York – Stony Brook [Marine Sciences] BS, [Marine Vertebrate Biology] BS, [Marine Sciences (Marine Conservation and Policy, Marine and Atmospheric Sciences) tracks] MA, MS, PhD
North Carolina
Duke University [Biology with Marine Biology concentration] BA/BS, [Biology] MS, PhD
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill [Biology with minor in Marine Sciences] BS, [Marine Sciences with specialization in Marine Biology/Ecology] MS, PhD
University of North Carolina Wilmington [Marine Biology] BS, [Marine Biology] MS, PhD
Ohio
Bowling Green State University [Marine and Aquatic Biology BS], [Biology] MS, PhD
Ohio University [Marine, Freshwater, and Environmental Biology] BS, [Biology] MS, [Biology] PhD
Wittenberg University [Biology with Minor in Marine Science] BA, BS
Oregon
University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology BA, BS, MS, PhD
Oregon State University [Biology with Marine Biology option] BS, [Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences] BS, HBS, [Marine Resource Management] MA, MS, [Fisheries Science] BS, MS, Ph.D., MAIS
Pennsylvania
East Stroudsburg University [Marine Science] BS, [Biology] MS
Millersville University [Biology w/ Marine Biology option] BS
Rhode Island
Brown University [Biology], Graduate Programs
Roger Williams University [Marine Biology] BA, BS
University of Rhode Island [Marine Biology] BS, [Biological and Environmental Sciences – specialization: Evolution and Marine Biology] MS, Ph.D., [Marine Affairs] MA, PhD
South Carolina
Coastal Carolina University [Marine Science] BS, [Coastal Marine and Wetland Studies] MS
College of Charleston – Grice Marine Laboratory [Marine Biology] BS, MS
University of South Carolina [Marine Science] BS, MS, PhD
Texas A&M Clipper ship
Texas
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi [Biology w/ Marine Biology career track] BS, MS, PhD
Texas A&M University Galveston [Marine Biology, Marine Fisheries] BS, IDP, MS, PhD
Texas State [Aquatic Biology] BS, [Aquatic Resources] MS, [Aquatic Resources] PhD
University of Texas at Austin – Marine Science Institute [Biology: Marine and Freshwater Science] BS, [Marine Science] MS, PhD
U.S. Virgin Islands
University of the Virgin Islands – BA, BS, Master of Marine and Environmental Science Program (MMES)
Virginia
College of William and Mary [Marine Science minor], [Marine Science] MS, Ph.D. (Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS))
Hampton University [Marine and Environmental Science] BS
Old Dominion University [Marine Biology] BS, [Ocean and Earth Sciences] MS, [Oceanography] PhD
Washington
Seattle Pacific University [Biology with an emphasis in ecology] BS
University of Washington [Marine Biology] BS, [Oceanography with biological oceanography specialization] MS, PhD
Western Washington University [Biology with marine emphasis] BS, [Biology, Marine and Estuarine Science] MS
Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Superior [Biology with Ecology, Aquatic Biology, and Fishery Science focus] BS
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University of Wisconsin-Whitewater [Marine & Freshwater Aquatic Biology Emphasis] BS