Only 17 colleges in the country offer Ocean Engineering, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $89,337.
This page covers Ocean Engineering 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 Engineering and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Ocean Engineering is a focused area of study within Engineering. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $89,337 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 17 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 290 students complete it each year, most walking away with a bachelor's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$69,707
Median Earnings · 4yr
$89,337
Colleges Offering
17
Graduates / Year
290
Avg Net Price / yr
$20,757
How Much Do Ocean Engineering Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Ocean Engineering, a typical graduate earns $89,337, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $76,433 and $105,130, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$89,337
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$85,868
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Ocean Engineering graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out a moderate amount, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$76,43325th pct.
$89,337Median
$105,13075th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $89,337 against an estimated $83,028 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 8 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 290 students who complete Ocean Engineering programs each year, the majority (57%) earn a bachelor's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
57%26%
Bachelor's57%
Master's26%
Doctorate9%
What Can You Do With an Ocean Engineering Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Ocean Engineering graduates show up in 2 different occupations, and Architectural & Engineering Manager pays the most at $171,270/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Teach courses pertaining to the application of physical laws and principles of engineering for the development of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and services. Includes teachers of subjects such as chemical, civil, electrical, industrial, mechanical, mineral, and petroleum engineering. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.
Conduct research in a particular field of knowledge and publish findings in professional journals, books, or electronic media.
Prepare course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
Top Colleges for Ocean Engineering
Not sure where to study Ocean Engineering? These 15 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 Ocean Engineering graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Engineering Programs
Ocean Engineering is not the only path through Engineering: 37 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 an Ocean Engineering program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
Strong earnings and positive career growth make Ocean Engineering a solid option. The 4 strengths and 2 trade-offs below are data-sourced from College Scorecard, BLS, and IPEDS.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $89,337 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Positive job outlookRelated careers project up to +7.8% job growth over the next 10 years, a solid signal for long-term demand.
Strong hiring volumeRelated occupations generate more than 18,800 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $105,130, a strong ceiling for high performers.
CONS
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.
Limited program availabilityOnly 17 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
$89,337 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $76,433 and $105,130, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for an Ocean Engineering degree?
$69,707 in the first year out. That grows to $89,337 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 an Ocean Engineering degree?
Architectural & Engineering Manager is one path, and it pays a median of $171,270 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 an Ocean Engineering program take?
Four years of full-time study for an Ocean Engineering 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 Ocean Engineering?
17 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 an Ocean Engineering degree worth it?
$89,337 median earnings four years out against $20,757 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Ocean Engineering and Engineering?
Ocean Engineering is the narrower of the two: Engineering covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Ocean Engineering-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 Ocean Engineering graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Ocean Engineering graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Ocean Engineering graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
What is the job outlook for Ocean Engineering graduates?
Outlook is moderate overall: related occupations average +6.7% projected job growth over the next 10 years. Engineering Teachers are among the strongest-growth roles at +7.8%. 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 Engineering Programs
Other programs in Engineering. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
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