If you’ve always been fascinated by the mysteries of the ocean and dream of exploring marine ecosystems, a career in marine biology might be perfect for you. Studying marine biology offers the unique opportunity to observe animal behaviors, understand the health of our oceans, and explore the connections between humans and marine life. Graduates can …
If you’ve always been fascinated by the mysteries of the ocean and dream of exploring marine ecosystems, a career in marine biology might be perfect for you. Studying marine biology offers the unique opportunity to observe animal behaviors, understand the health of our oceans, and explore the connections between humans and marine life. Graduates can pursue diverse career paths ranging from biotechnology and aquaculture to renewable energy and conservation. Whether you’re interested in the mechanisms of marine organisms or working on sustainable practices to protect our waterways, a degree in marine biology opens the door to a world of scientific discovery and environmental stewardship.
In this post, we will share a bit more about marine biology as a career, then share the 8 best colleges for marine biology in the United States. Let’s get started.
Do you want to be a marine ecologist, oceanographer, or marine biotechnologist? Is your dream job related to marine biology? If it is, you’re in luck. Zippia, Precedence Research, Florida Tech, and Learn.org all agree: marine biology is a growing market.
Today, oceans are a key piece in Earth’s ecosystems , supply chainsand climate regulation. The field of marine biology dates back centuries, and is crucial to scientific discovery.
Marine biology can reveal many things as it not only offers a glimpse into complex ecosystems, but also addresses pressing issues like climate change, overfishing, and pollution, making it increasingly relevant in today’s world.
The major is growing as society recognizes the importance of ocean conservation and sustainable resource management. Opportunities for research and exploration attracted many students to the field. In college, marine biology students engage in hands-on fieldwork, lab research, and interdisciplinary study, preparing them for careers in research, conservation, education, and policy-making.
Marine biologists have a long road in education. Many of them have a degree or two, according to WiseOceans, often a Masters and a PhD. Let’s start at the beginning and focus on undergraduate education. So, what makes a good marine biology major?
A good marine biology major should have a concrete combination of academic knowledge, practical skills, and research opportunities. Here are some qualities we at Achievable considered: a strong foundation in biology, knowledge of oceanography, fieldwork experience, laboratory skills, critical thinking and problem-solving, communication skills, ethical and environmental awareness, reputation of the program, average earning after graduation, and size of the program within the school.
Here are our picks for the best colleges for a marine biology major! Take a look below:
Location: La Jolla, CA
Undergrad Enrollment: 32,138
Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average Starting Salary: $43,400
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1300-1520/26-31
UC San Diego’s curriculum offers unique lab work right along the Pacific Ocean and features “field trips to intertidal zones, salt marshes, and other marine ecosystems”. Examples of current research activities include: marine microbiology, algae biofuels and biotechnology, cell and developmental biology, physiology and biochemistry of marine animals, ecotoxicology, photobiology, parasitology, and more. UC San Diego also offers a unique major called Marine Chemical Biology (MCB), which combines “the fields of chemistry and biology to study and manipulate biological systems with the use of chemical, biochemical and genetic techniques and tools”.
Location: Seattle, WA
Undergrad Enrollment: 29,226
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average Starting Salary: $44,900
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1200-1470/27-33
The University of Washington has a strong marine biology program with the goal to “immersive learning experiences in and out of the classroom”. It includes a required integrative field experience and most options involve studying at Friday Harbor Labs, which is a marine field station on San Juan Island. Many students study “the marine aspects of biodiversity, organismal processes, and ecology and ecosystems, and explore conservation”.
Location: Cambridge, MA
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,516
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average Starting Salary: $70,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1480-1580/33-36
Harvard’s Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology offers an Integrative Biology major. Some popular pathways are Plant Sciences, Marine Biology & Biological Oceanography, Vertebrate Anatomy & Physiology, and Mathematical & Computational Biology. The department asks questions about the nature world such as “What kinds of organisms are there and how are they related? How is an organism’s functional design and behavior related to its environment? What are the genetic and morphological mechanisms underlying an organism’s development? How is evolution influenced by development?”
King of Hearts / Wikimedia Commons / “View of Stanford University from the Oval.” / CC BY-SA 3.0
Location: Stanford, CA
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,761
Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average Starting Salary: $70,400
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1470-1570/34-35
Stanford’s biology program boasts an impressive 90% of students participating in an independent research project. Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station is located on the shore of Monterey Bay, and is famed for its marine biology and ocean science studies. The station is open to all majors at all levels, and includes topics ranging from molecular biology to ecology and conservation. There are many opportunities for labs and research.
NkosiRob / Wikimedia Commons / “The Donna E. Shalala Student Center at the University of Miami.” / CC BY-SA 4.0
Location: Coral Gables, FL
Undergrad Enrollment: 12504
Acceptance Rate: 18.9%
Average Starting Salary: $54,000
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1300-1460/30-33
The Marine Biology and Ecology program at the University of Miami will equip students with a strong background in biology and quantitative skills. It includes research opportunities in “biomedicine, genomics, evolution, physiology, microbiology, immunology, and ecology”. The department aims to enhance “our understanding of marine organisms and their interrelationships with their biotic and physical environments”. This involves curriculums in physiology, genetics, ecology, behavior, population dynamics, connectivity, toxicology and conservation science.
Historyus82 / Wikimedia Commons / “Hawai’i Hall.” / CC BY-SA 4.0
Location: Honolulu, HI
Undergrad Enrollment: 11,536
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average Starting Salary: $35,700
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1080-1290/20-27
The School of Life Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa instills in students an appreciation for and understanding of living systems. Its location in Hawai’i is a unique natural laboratory for study. There are great directed research and honors projects at UH Mānoa.
Coolcaesar / Wikimedia Commons / “The view of Storke Tower and the University Center from the other side of the UCSB Lagoon at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Photographed on September 8, 2019 by user Coolcaesar.” / CC BY-SA 4.0
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Undergrad Enrollment: 23,460
Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average Starting Salary: $70,300
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1230-1460/28-34
UC Santa Barbara’s Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology program “cover the full spectrum of biological science from molecular biology and biochemistry to community and ecosystems ecology”. Opportunities include laboratory and field studies, independent studies, and group projects. Students can participate in “internships ranging from restoration ecology to veterinary and human medicine”.
Jalnet2 / Wikimedia Commons / “The Oak Hall Dormitory. Photo taken by Jalnet2.” / CC BY-SA 3.0
Location: Orono, ME
Undergrad Enrollment: 7,622
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average Starting Salary: $33,800
Middle 50% SAT/ACT: 1060-1280/22-30
At the School of Marine Sciences, students are exposed to a wide variety of topics, including “how to treat the marine environment, marine organisms, and their interactions as well as policy choices in ecosystem-based stewardship embedded in marine and coastal spatial planning”. The University of Maine emphasizes “Integrated Marine Science” and features a Semester-by-the-Sea program.
There you have it, the top 8 marine biology colleges. Choosing the right college for marine biology is a significant decision that can shape your academic and future career. Make sure to consider other factors such as faculty expertise, research opportunities, hands-on experience, location, and resources, so you can find the best fit for your interests and goals. Whether you aspire to study marine biology, oceanography, marine conservation, or marine policy, there are numerous reputable institutions that offer outstanding programs in marine science. Remember to thoroughly research each college, visit campuses if possible, and reach out to current students and faculty for insights. Your college experience in marine biology can prepare you for a rewarding career dedicated to understanding and protecting our oceans.
