Marine Biology Colleges

Marine Biology Colleges

Marine biologists focus their studies on organisms that live in marine bodies of water. If this sounds interesting to you, then maybe you should consider attending one of the marine biology colleges. These colleges can usually be found close to large bodies of water so that students can use this to their advantage during the program.

Degrees Opportunities at Marine Biology Colleges

Students interested in this subject matter, can earn a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. in marine biology. To perform research independently, students must first earn their Ph.D. If the research aspect of this career sounds that most interesting to you, but you have no desire to obtain your Ph.D., then you should potentially reconsider your interest in marine biology colleges.

Some marine biology colleges will not offer a degree specifically in ‘marine biology.’ Instead, these colleges will encourage students to get their bachelor’s degree in biological science, and typically award a certificate in marine biology. For those marine biology colleges that do offer a degree specifically in marine biology, students should expect to take courses and labs in the following areas: chemistry, marine botany, aquatic pollution biology, oceanography, microbiology, and animal physiology…just to name a few.

Choosing Marine Biology Colleges

When considering marine biology colleges, students should evaluate the following factors:

1. What type of lab equipment does the college offer?

2. How modern are the lab facilities?

3. What types of clinical ocean exploratory opportunities are there?

4. Is there an aquarium located on campus for marine observation?

5. Will there be opportunities to perform independent research?

Applying to Marine Biology Colleges

Marine biology colleges typically prefer applicants to have the following: AP or honors courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus, and English composition; 3.0 or higher GPA; above average ACT/SAT scores; and science-related volunteer involvement.  As previously stated, most marine biology students go on to pursue advanced degrees, so you should choose your coursework carefully.

Some of the common admissions requirements for marine biology colleges include advanced high school courses in biology, chemistry, physics, calculus, and English composition; minimum 3.0 grade point average, above average ACT/SAT test scores, and involvement in volunteer or extracurricular activities related to science.  As previously mentioned, most marine biologists go on to obtain advanced degrees.  Therefore, those high school students who choose to attend marine biology colleges should plan their course work accordingly.

List of Marine Biology Colleges

Below is a list of 20 marine biology colleges by student enrollment:

1. Florida International University

2. Florida State University

3. University of California-LA

4. California State University-Long Beach

5. Rutgers University-New Brunswick

6. University of Georgia

7. University of Southern California

8. San Jose State University

9. Boston University

10. San Francisco State University

11. Nova Southeastern University

12. Troy University

13. University of California-San Diego

14. University of South Carolina-Columbia

15. The University of Alabama

16. Northeastern University

17. Auburn University Main Campus

18. University of Connecticut

19. Stony Brook University

20. University of California-Santa Barbara

*For more information on these marine biology colleges, visit each school’s website directly.

Career Options for Graduates of Marine Biology Colleges

Some potential careers for graduates of Marine Biology Colleges include the following:

• Aquarium Manager
• Aquatic Researcher
• Marine Conservation Consultant
• Wetland Environmental Preservationist
• University Research Centers
• Government Research Centers
• Marine Conservation Organization

Employment Outlook for Graduates of Marine Biology Colleges

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there are not a ton of positions available right now in the marine biology field. As a result, marine biology students should expect the competition to be tough for the few positions that are available.

However, the average salary for students who graduate from marine biology colleges and obtain a position is $76,000. This is “average,” not the starting salary…so keep this in mind as you search for various positions.