Top Marine Biology Graduate Programs 2026
Read about the typical characteristics of a school with a good graduate program in marine biology. Learn about three top marine biology schools in this field, and review their national rankings. Discover what each of these marine biology colleges has to offer.
What Should I Look for in Top Marine Biology Graduate Programs?
Are you interested in coral reef ecology? Estuaries? Marine mammals? Algae? You should look for well-regarded marine biology programs that can offer field experience and training in your proposed specialty.
Top marine biology schools maintain vessels and specialist laboratories, libraries and specimen collections to support their programs. They have established relationships with universities and institutes that offer their students exchange opportunities. They work with state and federal government entities and other prospective employers.
Major agencies in the field include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and private foundations interested in marine biology. Faculty members come from distinguished institutions, excel at research and have significant publication records in prestigious journals. Faculty and students are recipients of external fellowships and awards.
<h2 id="section---WhatAreThreeGoodSchoolsForMarineBiologyMasterSPrograms">What Are Three Good Schools for Marine Biology Master's Programs?</h2><h3 id="section---TheUniversityOfCaliforniaAtSanDiegoScrippsInstitutionOfOceanographyInLaJollaCA">The University of California at San Diego: Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA</h3><p>Founded in 1903 as the Marine Biological Association of San Diego, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography is a graduate school of the University of California at San Diego (<i>www.sio.ucsd.edu</i>). It was selected through a competitive application process by the NOAA to lead the Cooperative Institute on Marine Ecosystems and Climate (CIMEC), a federal/academic research partnership.
</p><p>Marine biology students are the largest curricular group at Scripps. Scripps' Marine Biology Research Division has laboratories specializing in microbiology and physiology, cell and developmental biology, ecology and evolutionary biology. The division hosts several centers, including the Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation, the Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine and the Scripps Genome Center.
</p><p>A professional graduate degree, the Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation is administered by Scripps' Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation and conferred by the University of California at San Diego. Most Scripps students are accepted directly into the Ph.D. program, which is administered by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Degree options include:
</p><ul><li>MS and PhD in Climate-Ocean-Atmosphere
</li><li>MS and PhD in Geosciences of the Earth, Oceans and Planets
</li><li>MS and PhD in Ocean Biosciences
</li><li>MAS in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation
</li><li>MAS in Climate Science and Policy
</li></ul><h3 id="section---TheUniversityOfMiamiRosenstielSchoolOfMarineAtmosphericScienceInCoralGablesFL">The University of Miami: Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science in Coral Gables, FL</h3><p>The Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science (RSMAS), founded in 1940, is a school of the University of Miami. As such, RSMAS Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries students have access to unique environments and research facilities. The Caribbean Sea, the beginning of the Gulf Stream and the only coral reef ecosystem in the U.S. are nearby. In addition to its own multi-building campus and research vessel, facilities of the NOAA, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, the Southeast Fisheries Center, the National Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Fisheries Service are available.
</p><p>High-achieving students attend the Rosenstiel School. The winner of a prestigious NSF grant for marine biology studies chose to matriculate at Rosenstiel in 2010. Research assistantships and special fellowships are generally offered to students admitted to the graduate program.
</p><p>Those who wish to pursue a graduate program under marine biology and ecology can choose from the following options:
</p><ul><li>PhD in Marine Biology and Ecology
</li><li>MS in Marine Biology and Ecology
</li><li>MPS in Marine Biology and Ecology (with tracks in marine mammal science and tropical marine ecosystem management)
</li></ul><h3 id="section---CollegeOfWilliamAndMaryVirginiaInstituteOfMarineScienceInGloucesterPointVA">College of William and Mary: Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, VA</h3><p>Founded in 1938, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) hosts the School of Marine Science (<i>www.vims.edu</i>). The School of Marine Science (SMS) is one of the College of William and Mary's graduate schools.
</p><p>Like its umbrella organization, the College of William and Mary, VIMS is a public educational institution funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia and other grantors. These include the NOAA, the NSF, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Interior.
</p><p>With more than 500 employees, VIMS offers broad opportunities to School of Marine Science graduate students. VIMS partners with multiple international academic institutions in locations ranging from China to Wales. It also maintains marine industry partnerships for research and technology funded by the Commonwealth of Virginia. VIMS regularly provides educational opportunities to the K-12 education community in Virginia, including teacher workshops, student competitions and free online resources.
</p><p>SMS academic departments include biological sciences, environmental and aquatic animal health, physical science and fisheries science. The school's 35-acre campus includes tidewater bays, marshes and open ocean, all of which are accessible with its 40 vessels. Several research units are supported as well, including the Center for Coastal Resources Management and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia.
</p><p>Students specializing in marine biology will likely choose the biological science or fisheries science track as part of one of the following SMS degrees:
</p><ul><li>MS in Marine Science
</li><li>PhD in Marine Science
</li></ul><h2 id="section---TenTopSchoolsForMarineScienceGraduatePrograms">Ten Top Schools for Marine Science Graduate Programs</h2><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th>College/University</th><th>Institution Type</th><th>Location</th><th>Estimated Graduate In-State Tuition*</th></tr>
<tr><td>Florida Institute of Technology</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Melbourne, FL</td><td>$22,338</td></tr>
<tr><td>Texas A&M University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>College Station, TX</td><td>$6,552 in-state; $17,904 out-of-state</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nova Southeastern University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Fort Lauderdale, FL</td><td>$19,131</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Southern California</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Los Angeles, CA</td><td>$44,712</td></tr>
<tr><td>Princeton University</td><td>4-year, Private</td><td>Princeton, NJ</td><td>$49,450</td></tr>
<tr><td>SUNY University at Stony Brook</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Stony Brook, NY</td><td>$11,090</td></tr>
<tr><td>Old Dominion University</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Norfolk, VA</td><td>$9,727 in-state; $28,435 out-of-state</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Alaska Fairbanks</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Fairbanks, AK</td><td>$9,878 in-state; $20,766 out-of-state</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Connecticut</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Storrs, CT</td><td>$15,350 in-state; $36,962 out-of-state</td></tr>
<tr><td>University of Georgia</td><td>4-year, Public</td><td>Athens, GA</td><td>$8,704 in-state; $24,692 out-of-state</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *NCES College Navigator</i></p>