Best institutions to study Diver
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as professional deep-water or scuba divers, diving instructors, or diving support personnel.
7 U.S. institutions graduated 504 Diver students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 49.0304, a specialization of Marine Transportation (CIP 49.03), and leads most directly to the Commercial Divers occupation (BLS SOC 49-9092).
About Diver programs
A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as professional deep-water or scuba divers, diving instructors, or diving support personnel. Includes instruction in the use of diving equipment and related specialized gear; diving safety procedures; operation and maintenance of underwater life-support systems; underwater communication systems; decompression systems; underwater salvage; exploration, rescue, and photography; and installation and fitting of underwater mechanical systems and their maintenance, repair or demolition.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Diver program, part of Marine Transportation, prepares individuals to become skilled professional divers, diving instructors, or support personnel. This program is ideal for those interested in underwater exploration, salvage operations, and diving safety procedures, providing a comprehensive education in both technical and practical aspects of diving.
Students will gain knowledge in diving equipment operation, underwater communication systems, and safety procedures. Coursework includes training in mechanical systems, decompression techniques, and underwater photography, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for various diving environments.
Credentials awarded
What Diver graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year262 graduates / yr · 5 institutions52%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years237 graduates / yr · 2 institutions47%
- Associate's degree5 graduates / yr · 2 institutions1.0%
Graduates over time
Diver completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 996 |
| 2013 | 1,033 |
| 2014 | 969 |
| 2015 | 948 |
| 2016 | 867 |
| 2017 | 949 |
| 2018 | 817 |
| 2019 | 841 |
| 2020 | 694 |
| 2021 | 734 |
| 2022 | 876 |
| 2023 | 632 |
| 2024 | 539 |
| 2025 | 504 |
Top 7 institutions for Diver, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Divers Institute of Technology Seattle, WAPrivate for-profitAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 224 | 91% | $41,660 | $38,699 |
| 2 | Ocean Corporation Houston, TXPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 127 | 92% | $32,464 | $30,992 |
| 3 | Commercial Divers International Goodyear, AZPrivate for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 107 | 70% | $36,739 | — |
| 4 | University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AKPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 14 | 28% | — | — |
| 5 | Santa Barbara City College Santa Barbara, CAPublicAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic yearsAssociate's | 14 | 34% | — | — |
| 6 | South Louisiana Community College Lafayette, LAPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 10 | 30% | — | — |
| 7 | The College of the Florida Keys Key West, FLPublicAssociate'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 34% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Marine Transportation field (CIP 49.03) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 7 states
Where Diver graduates come from. Each state links to all Marine Transportation programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 1 | 224 | Divers Institute of Technology224 / yr |
| Texas | 1 | 127 | Ocean Corporation127 / yr |
| Arizona | 1 | 107 | Commercial Divers International107 / yr |
| Alaska | 1 | 14 | University of Alaska Southeast14 / yr |
| California | 1 | 14 | Santa Barbara City College14 / yr |
| Louisiana | 1 | 10 | South Louisiana Community College10 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 8 | The College of the Florida Keys8 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 49-9092, Commercial Divers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Diver program can pursue careers as commercial divers, with a strong job outlook featuring an 8.5% growth rate and approximately 400 annual openings. The median wage for this occupation is $61,130, typically requiring a postsecondary nondegree award.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 49.0304
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Commercial Diversprimary SOC 49-9092 | $72,990 | +8.5% Much faster than average | ~400 | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Diver programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Take appropriate safety precautions, such as monitoring dive lengths and depths and registering with authorities before diving expeditions begin.
- Check and maintain diving equipment, such as helmets, masks, air tanks, harnesses, or gauges.
- Communicate with workers on the surface while underwater, using signal lines or telephones.
- Descend into water with the aid of diver helpers, using scuba gear or diving suits.
- Obtain information about diving tasks and environmental conditions.
- Supervise or train other divers, including hobby divers.
Tools and technology used
Other Marine Transportation specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Marine Transportation (CIP 49.03).
- Marine Science/CIP 49.0309
Merchant Marine Officer 501 graduates / yr10 institutions - Marine TransportationCIP 49.0399partial data83 graduates / yr9 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Commercial Fishing49.0303
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What credentials can I earn from this program?+
You can earn an award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year, or an award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years.
What skills will I develop in the Diver program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and underwater communication, among others.
What tasks will I be trained to perform?+
Training includes safety precautions, equipment maintenance, and communication with surface workers while diving.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 7 colleges in the U.S. that offer the Diver program.
What is the CIP code for Diver?+
Diver is CIP 49.0304 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Marine Transportation (CIP 49.03). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as professional deep-water or scuba divers, diving instructors, or diving support personnel. Includes instruction in the use of diving equipment and related specialized gear; diving safety procedures; operation and maintenance of underwater life-support systems; underwater communication systems; decompression systems; underwater salvage; exploration, rescue, and photography; and installation and fitting of underwater mechanical systems and their maintenance, repair or demolition.
How many institutions offer Diver programs?+
7 U.S. institutions reported Diver graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 7 states, awarding 504 credentials in the year. That is 46.3% of all Marine Transportation graduates.
How much do Diver graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Commercial Divers occupation, which Diver most directly leads to, pays a median of $72,990 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Marine Transportation field report median earnings of $38,699 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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