Marine Biology major
Marine Biology: courses, careers, and where to study
Marine biology applies the life sciences to organisms in oceans, coastal waters, and estuaries, suiting students drawn to fieldwork, lab research, and ocean ecosystems.
Marine biology studies how microbes, plants, and animals live in oceans, coastal zones, and saltwater wetlands, and how those organisms respond to the physical and chemical conditions around them. Students learn the foundations of general biology, chemistry, and physics, then layer on ocean-specific subjects such as the chemistry and geology of seawater, marine botany, the study of fishes, and the biology of marine mammals. Coursework reaches across scales, from molecular and cellular processes and reproductive biology up to population dynamics, biodiversity, and the workings of whole habitats and ecosystems. Unlike general biology, the major keeps its focus on saltwater environments; unlike oceanography, which centers on the ocean's physical, chemical, and geological systems, marine biology keeps living organisms and their ecology at the center, while drawing on those earth-science tools to explain where and why species thrive.
Most entry-level marine biology roles begin with a bachelor's degree, and programs typically pair lecture courses with hands-on laboratory work, field sampling at the shore or aboard research vessels, and a senior research project or internship that produces original data. Independent research, graduate study, and university teaching usually call for a master's or doctoral degree, so students who want to lead their own investigations often continue past the bachelor's level. There is no single license to practice as a marine biologist, though specific tasks such as scientific diving, handling protected species, or working in regulated fisheries can require certifications or permits that vary by employer and state and should be verified. Graduates work in settings such as government wildlife and fisheries agencies, environmental consulting firms, aquariums and marine education centers, conservation nonprofits, biotechnology labs, and academic research institutions.
In federal data for the closely related occupation of zoologists and wildlife biologists, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a 2024 median wage of $72,860 and projects employment to grow about 1.6% from 2024 to 2034; a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for that occupation. National figures are occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages or graduate outcomes.
Academic classification (CIP)
In the federal Classification of Instructional Programs, Marine Biology maps to CIP 26.1302, Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography, within the BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES family. The official definition:
A program that focuses on the scientific study of the ecology and behavior of microbes, plants, and animals inhabiting oceans, coastal waters, and saltwater wetlands and their interactions with the physical environment. Includes instruction in chemical, physical, and geological oceanography; molecular, cellular, and biochemical studies; marine microbiology; marine botany; ichthyology; mammalogy; marine population dynamics and biodiversity; reproductive biology; studies of specific species, phyla, habitats, and ecosystems; marine paleocology and palentology; and applications to fields such as fisheries science and biotechnology.
Source: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020. View on nces.ed.gov
What credential Marine Biology is awarded as
Of the 2,329 Marine Biology credentials U.S. colleges reported conferring in 2023-24:
- Certificate<1%11
- Associate<1%21
- Bachelor's81%1,891
- Graduate17%406
CampusPin does not have enough states reporting this field to say whether the mix changes from state to state. See the full study.
Credentials conferred in 2023-24, U.S. Department of Education IPEDS completions. A certificate is a different credential from a degree, not a lesser one, and this counts what was awarded rather than what a college currently offers.
What you'll study
- General and cellular biology with organic and general chemistry foundations
- Chemical, physical, and geological oceanography of seawater systems
- Marine ecology and the structure of coastal and ocean habitats
- Ichthyology, marine mammalogy, and invertebrate zoology
- Marine microbiology, botany, and the biology of plankton and algae
- Field sampling, scientific diving, and shipboard data collection methods
- Population dynamics, biodiversity assessment, and conservation biology
- Statistics and quantitative analysis applied to ecological data
- A capstone research project or fisheries and biotechnology internship
Typical careers
- Marine Biologist
- Marine Ecologist
- Fisheries Biologist
- Aquatic Conservationist
- Oceanographic Researcher
- Marine Mammal Specialist
Typical salary range: Early-career wages vary by employer, region, and experience (BLS, 2024 zoologists and wildlife biologists median $72,860).Ranges are early-career estimates. Any BLS figure shown is the occupation-wide median across all experience levels, not a starting wage, and is informational only.
Related occupations
Occupations the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk associates with Marine Biology, with what each one pays and how many openings it is projected to average each year. Ordered by projected annual openings, largest first. Linked titles open the full CampusPin career page.
| Occupation | Median pay | Openings / yr | Projected change | Most entrants hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological Technicians | $52,000 | 9,100 | +3.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 8,500 | +3.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $83,460 | 5,400 | +7.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $93,330 | 4,800 | +1.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $72,860 | 1,400 | +1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
Crosswalk: U.S. Department of Education (NCES), CIP 2020 to SOC 2018. Pay, openings and projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024 wages, Employment Projections). 5 of these 5 occupations report a median wage.
“Most entrants hold” is what BLS observes about people already working in the occupation. It is not a legal requirement, not an admission rule, and not a guarantee of entry. Studying Marine Biology does not guarantee any specific occupation, and many of these roles are entered from several different fields. Projected openings are a projection, not jobs promised.
Before you commit to a Marine Biology major
CampusPin does not rank programs. Use these prompts to pressure-test whether a specific Marine Biology program fits your goals, they are decision questions, not claims about any school.
Ask the Marine Biology department
- Which concentrations or specializations are offered, and which faculty lead them?
- What does the typical course sequence look like, and how much is required vs. elective?
- What labs, studios, clinical placements, or research opportunities are available to undergraduates?
- Is there a capstone, thesis, internship, or co-op requirement?
Ask current students & check the curriculum
- How heavy is the workload, and how accessible is the faculty?
- What internships or co-ops did you do, and where do recent graduates end up?
- Does the required curriculum actually match the careers listed above?
- How easy is it to add a minor, double major, or switch tracks later?
Find a Marine Biology program
CampusPin lists U.S. universities and community colleges by state, tuition, school size, acceptance rate, and campus setting, no account required.
Colleges that awarded the most Marine Biology credentials
Largest by credentials conferred in 2023-24. This measures the size of the graduating class, not quality, and it is not a ranking.
- University of California-San DiegoCA · 162
- Coastal Carolina UniversitySC · 154
- University of MiamiFL · 124
- University of North Carolina WilmingtonNC · 108
- University of California-Santa CruzCA · 95
- Eckerd CollegeFL · 93
- Texas A & M University-College StationTX · 87
- University of Hawaii at ManoaHI · 74
- Nova Southeastern UniversityFL · 72
- California State University-Long BeachCA · 68
- Unity Environmental UniversityME · 67
- The University of TampaFL · 59
Based on credentials this institution reported conferring in the federal IPEDS completions collection for 2023-24. It confirms the field was awarded that year, not that the program currently accepts students, and it covers only the fields CampusPin tracks. Confirm current offerings with the institution.
Where Marine Biology credentials were awarded
4 states have a distinct enough set of Marine Biology colleges to be worth its own page.
Search Marine Biology schools by state
Related majors
Biology
Biology is the foundational pre-health major, covering molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecological levels of living systems.
Environmental Science
Environmental Science combines biology, chemistry, geology, and policy to address climate, conservation, water, and pollution challenges.
Microbiology
Microbiology studies microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, suiting students aiming for lab research, biotech, public health, and clinical or pharmaceutical work.
Forestry
Forestry combines biology, ecology, and resource management to steward forests and woodlands. It suits students who want science-based, hands-on work managing land and natural resources.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry studies the chemistry of living systems, bridging biology and chemistry for students aiming at research, biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical and graduate pathways.
Put this major in context
The salary above is an occupation-wide median from federal data, not a starting wage or a guarantee. These CampusPin guides and reports help you read it well, see where a Marine Biology degree can lead, and weigh it against cost and program quality.
Explore Science & Research careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
Explore Management careers
Median pay, job outlook, and the occupations this field covers.
How one major leads to many careers
Why a single Marine Biology degree can open more than one path, and how to read the occupations above.
Why a median wage is not a starting salary
How to read a BLS median, and why early-career pay usually sits below it.
When accreditation and licensure matter
How program accreditation and state licensure can shape a Marine Biology path before you enroll.
Does a pricier college pay off?
How college cost lines up with graduation and earnings, an association, not a ranking.
Does picking a major narrow your college list?
Across the federal completions data, most fields barely change which colleges are on the table. Which ones genuinely do.
Certificate or degree?
What credential a field is usually awarded as is mostly set by the field itself, not by the state, with a short list of exceptions.
How this guide is sourced
This is an editorial guide from the CampusPin Editorial Team. Career and wage figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupation-wide medians across all experience levels, not starting wages, and link to each career page. Program availability comes from CampusPin's free institution search; CampusPin does not assert that any specific school offers this exact major until that program data is verified. Last reviewed 2026-06-15. How CampusPin sources data · Report a correction.