Best colleges for Marine Sciences in California
Ranked by graduate earnings
California State University - Monterey Bay, University of California-Davis and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo award the most Marine Sciences degrees and certificates in California: 115, 33 and 27 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 7 California colleges offer Marine Sciences and award 211 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Marine Sciences program is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of oceanic and coastal environments. It encompasses various scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and environmental science, making it…
Top 2 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,337 | 27 | 86% | — | — |
| 2 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,268 | 115 | 59% | — | $17,800 |
Colleges awarding the most Marine Sciences degrees in California
Top 7 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside Public | 115 | $27,268 |
| 2 | University of California-Davis Davis Public | 33 | Not reported |
| 3 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo Public | 27 | $27,337 |
| 4 | University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz Public | 14 | Not reported |
| 5 | San Jose State University San Jose Public | 11 | Not reported |
| 6 | San Francisco State University San Francisco Public | 10 | Not reported |
| 7 | University of California-Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Public | 1 | Not reported |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health (SOC 19-2041).
Top skills
What Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn in California
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Marine Sciences programs in California.
Which California colleges award the most Marine Sciences degrees?+
California State University - Monterey Bay (115 graduates a year), University of California-Davis (33 graduates a year) and California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo (27 graduates a year) award the most Marine Sciences degrees and certificates in California, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 7 California colleges offer Marine Sciences.
Which Marine Sciences program in California has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo tops the list at $27,337. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health earn in California?+
The average annual wage for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in California is $112,360 (median $106,510), across about 12,490 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Marine Sciences program?+
The Marine Sciences program is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on the study of oceanic and coastal environments. It encompasses various scientific disciplines, including biology, chemistry, and environmental science, making it…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, writing, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health?+
The national job outlook is about +4.4% growth with around 8,500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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