Only 40 colleges in the country offer Marine Sciences, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $52,667.
This page covers Marine Sciences as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Interdisciplinary Studies and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Marine Sciences is a focused area of study within Interdisciplinary Studies. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $52,667 four years out, a solid return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 40 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 436 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. The focus is on writing, analysis, and communication that transfer across industries.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$27,337
Median Earnings · 4yr
$52,667
Colleges Offering
40
Graduates / Year
436
Avg Net Price / yr
$15,479
How Much Do Marine Sciences Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Marine Sciences, a typical graduate earns $52,667, below average for bachelor's degree holders. Half of earners land somewhere between $35,959 and $68,489, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $27,337 at one year out to $52,667 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Starting salaries only. Earnings in this field grow substantially in the first 3 to 5 years.
$52,667
4-Year National Median
Below average for bachelor's degree holders.
$53,037
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Marine Sciences graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Career path divergence explains most of the range. Law, consulting, and tech-adjacent roles pull the top end up; writing, education, and nonprofit roles tend to sit near the bottom.
$35,95925th pct.
$52,667Median
$68,48975th pct.
A Solid Financial Return
Solid ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $52,667 and an estimated $61,916 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 2.7 years.
Based on outcomes from 17 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 436 students who complete Marine Sciences programs each year, the majority (62%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
62%21%
Bachelor's62%
Master's21%
Associate's8%
What Can You Do With a Marine Sciences Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Marine Sciences graduates show up in 4 different occupations, and Natural Sciences Managers pay the most at $167,220/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.
Hire, supervise, or evaluate engineers, technicians, researchers, or other staff.
Design or coordinate successive phases of problem analysis, solution proposals, or testing.
Plan or direct research, development, or production activities.
Reading ComprehensionSpeakingScienceCritical ThinkingComplex Problem Solving
Day-to-day responsibilities
Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, and oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists.
Plan or conduct geological, geochemical, or geophysical field studies or surveys, sample collection, or drilling and testing programs used to collect data for research or application.
Analyze and interpret geological data, using computer software.
Investigate the composition, structure, or history of the Earth's crust through the collection, examination, measurement, or classification of soils, minerals, rocks, or fossil remains.
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings.
Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control.
Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Complex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingReading ComprehensionActive ListeningSpeaking
Day-to-day responsibilities
Study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats.
Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.
Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
Top Colleges for Marine Sciences
Not sure where to study Marine Sciences? These 20 colleges graduate the most students in it each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.
Ranked by Marine Sciences graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Marine Sciences is not the only path through Interdisciplinary Studies: 38 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Marine Sciences program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Marine Sciences shows 3 measurable strengths and 4 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $27,337 at graduation to $52,667 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
Fast-growing fieldRelated careers are projected to grow up to +8.2% over the next decade, with Natural Sciences Managers among the fastest-growing roles.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 19,700 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
CONS
Modest median earningsFour-year median of $52,667 lags STEM and business fields, affecting ROI at higher-cost programs.
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
High earnings varianceGap between 25th ($35,959) and 75th ($68,489) percentile is wide. Where you land depends heavily on employer, role, and location.
Limited program availabilityOnly 40 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
$52,667 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $35,959 and $68,489, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Marine Sciences degree?
$27,337 in the first year out. That grows to $52,667 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Marine Sciences degree?
Natural Sciences Managers are one path, and it pays a median of $167,220 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Marine Sciences program take?
Four years of full-time study for a Marine Sciences bachelor's degree, the standard timeline for this field. If you want a faster route into the workforce, community colleges offer a two-year associate option instead.
How many colleges offer Marine Sciences?
40 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Marine Sciences degree worth it?
$52,667 median earnings four years out against $15,479 a year in average net price. That is a reasonable payback window, best at lower-cost schools and in high-demand roles. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Marine Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies?
Marine Sciences is the narrower of the two: Interdisciplinary Studies covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Marine Sciences-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Marine Sciences graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Marine Sciences graduates consistently look for writing, critical analysis, and cross-cultural communication. Employers value the ability to synthesize complex information clearly, skills that transfer into communications, law, consulting, and content roles. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
What is the job outlook for Marine Sciences graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +5.8% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Natural Sciences Managers are among the strongest-growth roles at +8.2%. That average hides real differences by role and location, so check the Career Paths section below for the projection on each specific occupation before you count on any single number.
Related Interdisciplinary Studies Programs
Other programs in Interdisciplinary Studies. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
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