Best Schools for Ocean Engineering

Ocean Engineering graduates earn a median of $86,095 within four years of graduating, ranking #0 out of 283 tracked majors — 38% above the median across all fields. There are 4 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 127 recent graduates.

Earnings for Ocean Engineering vary little between colleges — $80,093 to $92,553 from bottom to top. That is the usual pattern: the field you choose separates earnings more than the college you choose.

Schools

$86,095

Avg. 2yr Earnings

of 283 Majors

127

Graduates

Public vs Private: Ocean Engineering

Public (3 schools)

$87,849

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (1 schools)

$80,836

avg. 2yr earnings

Public schools produce comparable or higher early earnings for Ocean Engineering, often at lower tuition — making them strong value options for this major.

Ocean Engineering by State

Top Ocean Engineering Schools by Graduate Earnings

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

University of Rhode Island

Kingston, RI · Public

Florida Institute of Technology

Melbourne, FL · Private

$80,836

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

1yr: $60,121 (18)

Acceptance: 62.5%

Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL · Public

$80,093

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

2yr: $63,377 (18)

1yr: $61,746 (35)

Acceptance: 73.4%

Majors with Similar Earnings

Mathematics and Computer Science $84,401 Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering $81,473 Petroleum Engineering $74,887 Operations Research $73,589 Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering $72,650

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Ocean Engineering?

Texas A&M University-College Station ranks #1 for Ocean Engineering with median graduate earnings of $92,553 within four years of graduating. There are 4 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do Ocean Engineering graduates earn?

Ocean Engineering graduates earn an average of $86,095 within four years of graduating. This is 38% above the median across all majors. Earnings range from $80,093 to $92,553 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top Ocean Engineering program?

The average acceptance rate across Ocean Engineering programs is 69.1%. The most selective program is at Florida Institute of Technology with a 62.5% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for Ocean Engineering?

Private Ocean Engineering programs average $80,836 in early earnings vs $87,849 at public schools. Public schools offer competitive earnings at typically lower cost, making them strong value options.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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