answrsnow
Schools · Top 10

Top 10 Universities for Marine Biology in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
University of California, San Diego
Direct answer

UC San Diego is the best university for marine biology, with a Marine Biology (BS) taught through the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla. The University of Hawaii at Manoa, with its marine lab on Coconut Island, and the University of Miami, with its Rosenstiel School on Virginia Key, follow.

At a glance

#PickMarine lab or field stationBest for
1University of California, San DiegoScripps Institution of Oceanography, main campus in La JollaA marine biology BS taught through Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the La Jolla coast
2University of Hawaii at ManoaHawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe BayTropical reef study with an island marine lab
3University of MiamiRosenstiel School campus on Virginia KeyA private university with its own marine school campus on Virginia Key
4Oregon State UniversityHatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OregonA term in residence at a working marine station on the Oregon coast
5Boston UniversityMarine Semester field research in New England and on the Belizean Barrier ReefA city campus plus a field semester that reaches the Belizean Barrier Reef
6University of California, Santa BarbaraMarine Science Institute, established 1969A UC campus on the Santa Barbara coast with a marine biology department
7Texas A&M University at GalvestonOcean-oriented branch campus on Pelican Island, GalvestonA Gulf Coast campus built around ocean study
8University of WashingtonFriday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan IslandMarine biology in Seattle with a field station in the San Juan Islands
9Stony Brook UniversityField station near the ocean in Southampton, New YorkFish, shark, bird, turtle and marine mammal study on Long Island
10Eckerd CollegeGalbraith Marine Science Laboratory, with a flow-through seawater system from Tampa BayA small waterfront liberal arts college

Pick by what you want

Best overall
University of California, San Diego
Best for coral reefs
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Best on the Gulf Coast
Texas A&M University at Galveston
Best for marine vertebrates
Stony Brook University
Best small college
Eckerd College

The ranking

1

University of California, San Diego

University of California, San Diego
Photo: Invertzoo / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Scripps pick on the Pacific.
Marine lab or field station: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, main campus in La JollaMarine biology degree: Marine Biology (BS)Location: La Jolla, San Diego, CaliforniaFounded: 1960

UC San Diego, a public research university in La Jolla established in 1960, offers a Marine Biology (BS) through the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, its school of oceanography and earth science.

Go ifA marine biology BS taught through Scripps Institution of Oceanography on the La Jolla coast
Skip ifYou want a small private college
Why #1 over #2: Its marine biology BS is taught through Scripps, right on its own coastline.
2

University of Hawaii at Manoa

University of Hawaii at Manoa
Photo: Edmund Garman from Salem, Oregon, USA / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe coral reef pick.
Marine lab or field station: Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe BayMarine biology degree: Marine Biology BA and BSLocation: Honolulu, HawaiiFounded: 1907

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Honolulu, founded in 1907, offers a Marine Biology BA and BS. Its Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology sits on Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe Bay.

Go ifTropical reef study with an island marine lab
Skip ifYou want to stay on the US mainland
Why #2 over #3: An island marine lab on a coral reef in Kāneʻohe Bay.
3

University of Miami

University of Miami
Photo: UM Rosenstiel School / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe South Florida marine school.
Marine lab or field station: Rosenstiel School campus on Virginia KeyMarine biology degree: B.S. in Marine Biology and EcologyLocation: Coral Gables, FloridaFounded: 1925

The University of Miami, a private university in Coral Gables founded in 1925, offers a B.S. in Marine Biology and Ecology through the Rosenstiel School, whose campus is on Virginia Key.

Go ifA private university with its own marine school campus on Virginia Key
Skip ifYou want a public-university price model
Why #3 over #4: A full marine school with its own campus, versus a field station.
4

Oregon State University

Oregon State University
Answrs VerdictThe Pacific Northwest field-station pick.
Marine lab or field station: Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OregonMarine biology degree: Biology BS, Marine Biology and Ecology OptionLocation: Corvallis, OregonFounded: 1868

Oregon State University in Corvallis, founded in 1868, offers a Biology BS with a Marine Biology and Ecology Option, which includes courses in residence at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.

Go ifA term in residence at a working marine station on the Oregon coast
Skip ifYou want your main campus on the ocean (Corvallis is inland)
Why #4 over #5: A required term at a working marine station, which BU’s program does without.
5

Boston University

Boston University
Answrs VerdictThe Marine Semester pick.
Marine lab or field station: Marine Semester field research in New England and on the Belizean Barrier ReefMarine biology degree: BA in Marine ScienceLocation: Boston, MassachusettsFounded: 1839

Boston University, a private university founded in 1839, offers a BA in Marine Science. Its Marine Semester takes students to research sites in New England and on the Belizean Barrier Reef.

Go ifA city campus plus a field semester that reaches the Belizean Barrier Reef
Skip ifYou want a BS-level marine biology degree
Why #5 over #6: Its Marine Semester reaches a tropical reef in Belize.
6

University of California, Santa Barbara

University of California, Santa Barbara
Photo: Mys 721tx / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe coastal UC alternative.
Marine lab or field station: Marine Science Institute, established 1969Marine biology degree: Aquatic Biology BS (Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology department)Location: Santa Barbara County, CaliforniaFounded: 1891

UC Santa Barbara, which traces its roots to 1891, offers an Aquatic Biology BS in its Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology department, and is home to the Marine Science Institute, established in 1969.

Go ifA UC campus on the Santa Barbara coast with a marine biology department
Skip ifYou want a degree titled “Marine Biology”
Why #6 over #7: A marine biology department on the California coast.
7

Texas A&M University at Galveston

Texas A&M University at Galveston
Answrs VerdictThe Gulf Coast pick.
Marine lab or field station: Ocean-oriented branch campus on Pelican Island, GalvestonMarine biology degree: Marine Biology BSLocation: Galveston, TexasFounded: 1962

Texas A&M University at Galveston, an ocean-oriented branch campus founded in 1962 on Pelican Island, offers a Marine Biology BS.

Go ifA Gulf Coast campus built around ocean study
Skip ifYou want a big main-campus experience
Why #7 over #8: A whole campus built around the ocean on the Gulf Coast.
8

University of Washington

University of Washington
Photo: Joe Mabel (on Flickr as Joe Mabel from Seattle, US) / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Salish Sea pick.
Marine lab or field station: Friday Harbor Laboratories on San Juan IslandMarine biology degree: Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Marine BiologyLocation: Seattle, WashingtonFounded: 1861

The University of Washington in Seattle, founded in 1861, offers a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Marine Biology, with study at the Friday Harbor Labs marine field station on San Juan Island.

Go ifMarine biology in Seattle with a field station in the San Juan Islands
Skip ifYou want warm-water reefs
Why #8 over #9: A degree titled Marine Biology, versus Stony Brook’s narrower vertebrate focus.
9

Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University
Answrs VerdictThe marine vertebrate pick.
Marine lab or field station: Field station near the ocean in Southampton, New YorkMarine biology degree: B.S. in Marine Vertebrate BiologyLocation: Stony Brook, New York (Long Island)Founded: 1957

Stony Brook University on Long Island, founded in 1957, offers a B.S. in Marine Vertebrate Biology, with field courses at a field station near the ocean in Southampton, New York.

Go ifFish, shark, bird, turtle and marine mammal study on Long Island
Skip ifYou want a general marine biology degree
Why #9 over #10: Research-university depth, versus a small college.
10

Eckerd College

Eckerd College
Answrs VerdictThe small-college waterfront pick.
Marine lab or field station: Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory, with a flow-through seawater system from Tampa BayMarine biology degree: B.S. in Marine Science with a Marine Biology trackLocation: St. Petersburg, FloridaFounded: 1958

Eckerd College, a private liberal arts college in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded in 1958, offers a B.S. in Marine Science with a Marine Biology track. Its Galbraith Marine Science Laboratory draws seawater from Tampa Bay.

Go ifA small waterfront liberal arts college
Skip ifYou want a large research university

How we ranked these

We kept the ten schools from our earlier list and checked each one’s marine biology degree and marine lab, field station or ocean campus on the university’s own pages and Wikipedia. Schools with a dedicated marine school or island or coastal lab rank higher. We do not use tuition or outside rankings. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

Which university has the Scripps Institution of Oceanography?

UC San Diego. Scripps is its school of oceanography and earth science, with its main campus in La Jolla, and it offers a Marine Biology (BS).

Where is the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology?

On Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island) in Kāneʻohe Bay. It is part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, which offers a Marine Biology BA and BS.

Does Oregon State have a marine biology degree?

Yes. Its Biology BS has a Marine Biology and Ecology Option that includes courses in residence at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.

Where do University of Washington marine biology students do field work?

Students study and research at labs in the School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, the School of Oceanography and the Friday Harbor Labs marine field station.

Year the university was founded at a glance

Boston University1,839 year
University of Washington1,861 year
Oregon State University1,868 year
University of California, Santa Barbara1,891 year
University of Hawaii at Manoa1,907 year
University of Miami1,925 year
Stony Brook University1,957 year
Eckerd College1,958 year
University of California, San Diego1,960 year
Texas A&M University at Galveston1,962 year
Year the university was founded, as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.