2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BEST MARINE BIOLOGY COLLEGES


The Best Marine Biology Colleges Are on the Horizon

Do you have a love of the ocean and aquatic life? Make a career out of it by studying at one of the best colleges for marine biology. There are many marine biology colleges in the country and around the world for students to choose from.

According to Marinebio.org, marine biology is “the study of life in the oceans and other saltwater environments such as estuaries and wetlands.”

best marine biology colleges

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Marine Biology Colleges

Marine biology incorporates knowledge from a number of fields, including astronomy, cellular biology, chemistry, ecology, geology, and more. As a result, students who attend one of the marine biologist colleges will take coursework in these different subject areas.

Our list of the top marine biology colleges should help students find the best colleges for marine biology to pursue their career ambitions.

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AdvisoryHQ’s List of Top 6 Best Colleges for Marine Biology

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that college)


Top 6 Best Marine Biology Colleges | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Top Marine Biology Colleges

Highlighted Features

Dalhousie UniversityMarine Gene Probe Laboratory
Duke UniversityInterdisciplinary program
Oregon Institute of Marine BiologyScholarship opportunities
UCLAMarine Biology Quarter (MBQ)
University of GuelphExtensive support for researchers
University of MiamiPhD Research Assistantship

Table: Top 6 Best Marine Biology Colleges | Above list is sorted alphabetically



Tips for Students Attending Colleges for Marine Biology

National Geographic offers great guidance for students at colleges for marine biology. For starters, students should put a lot of thought into what particular area of marine biology interests them since there are different specializations to pursue at the top marine biology colleges.

best marine biology colleges

Source: Pexels

The next thing National Geographic suggests thinking about is what you would like to study. Obviously, this takes a bit of time to figure out, but by the end of your second or even first year at one of the marine biology colleges, it should become clear where your research interests lie.

Additionally, students who attend marine biologist colleges should get as much hands-on experience as possible, whether it’s research experience in the lab or in the field. This will make graduates more competitive and ready to dive right in after graduation.



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Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Marine Biology Colleges

Below, please find the detailed review of each card on our list of top colleges for marine biology. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these marine biology colleges to score so high in our selection ranking.



Dalhousie University Review


Dalhousie University is one of the best marine biology colleges. Located in Halifax, Canada, it offers both undergraduate and graduate degree options for students.

Undergraduate Program

Dalhousie offers a four-year degree program for students who want to earn an undergraduate degree from one of the top colleges for marine biology. They can pursue a wide range of topics in a number of areas. This degree prepares students for technical jobs in the private and public sector.

Students can also combine their marine biology studies with oceanography.

Graduate Programs

Students who attend Dalhousie, one of the colleges with marine biology graduate studies, can pursue an advanced degree in the area.

While there is no specific marine biology graduate program, there are related graduate programs that allow students to further their knowledge in a specific subject area of marine biology. As one of the colleges with marine biology majors and specializations, students can earn a graduate degree in Biology, Oceanography, Environmental Studies, or Marine Affairs.

Students can also specialize these degrees by pursuing research opportunities.

Research Facilities

As one of the top colleges for marine biology, Dalhousie has first-class facilities for students to use for research and study.

Students and researchers have access to temperature-controlled seawater in the Aquatron Laboratory. And the Marine Gene Probe Laboratory contributes to Dalhousie’s reputation as one of the top colleges for marine biology. As described on the website, it is “one of North America’s most comprehensive facilities for DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, and protein expression.”



Duke University Review


If you’re still in the process of choosing majors and you’re considering attending one of the good colleges for marine biology, Duke University offers a great explanation of what marine biology is.

They explain that marine biology is not a branch of biology. Instead, it studies organisms that live in marine environments by applying different fields of biology. This is the kind of interdisciplinary learning that students can expect at Duke, one of the good colleges for marine biology.

Course Requirements

Students take a wide range of courses, and they can pursue either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts in Marine Biology.

For the Bachelor of Science degree, students must fulfill several course requirements, including:

  • Core Concepts in Chemistry OR Honors Chemistry: Core Concepts OR General Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Laboratory Calculus I OR Introductory Calculus I OR Both Laboratory Calculus and Functions I and II
  • Laboratory Calculus II OR Introductory Calculus II OR Biological Data Analysis
  • General Physics I OR Introductory Mechanics OR Introductory Experimental Physics I

A full list on the courses required by Duke, one of the top marine science colleges, can be found on their website.

Lab Experience Requirement

Students studying at Duke, one of the best marine science colleges, must also fulfill a lab requirement by completing two full lab courses. There is a capstone requirement as well.

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Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Review


The Oregon Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Oregon is one of the colleges with marine biology majors. Students receive the kind of comprehensive academic background in biology that University of Oregon Biology majors receive while getting the necessary hands-on experience in marine biology.

Students who choose to pursue these studies at one of the colleges with marine biology majors are not limited in their career options. This area of study provides students with the academic background to pursue professional studies in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary studies.

Marine Biology Major Requirements

The courses required by OIMB, one of the top colleges with marine biology majors, include the following:

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemistry Lab
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Calculus for the Biological Sci or Calculus
  • General or Foundation of Physics

OIMB Scholarship Opportunities

As one of the best marine biology colleges, OIMB offers scholarships to assist students who wish to study at marine biology colleges. There are scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,000. Students must simply apply by the applicable deadlines:

  • Spring Term – March 1
  • Summer Term – May 15
  • Fall Term – September 1
  • Winter Term – December 1

Study Abroad Opportunities

Students attending OIMB, one of the marine biologist colleges, can take advantage of study abroad opportunities and further their learning in a new country. This can also be used to get in some field work, studying in an area where marine biology research is possible.

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UCLA Review


The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is one of the best colleges for marine biology. It is under the umbrella of UCLA’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Marine Biology Quarter (MBQ)

Students studying at UCLA, one of the best colleges for marine biology, and who wish to earn the marine biology degree must participate in the Marine Biology Quarter. This portion of the program gives students the chance to immerse themselves in the life and work of a marine biologist.

Through the Marine Biology Quarter, students at UCLA, one of the American colleges for marine biology, get to create their own research project, do field work, conduct research, and present their findings.

Extensive Resources and Support from Departments

The Marine Biology major is offered by the school’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The department offers a number of resources for students attending UCLA as their choice of colleges for marine biology.

Students can attend seminars and events that allow them to interact with researchers and program alumni. There is also an Annual Biology Research Symposium that students and alumni participate in.

Graduate Programs

Students who choose UCLA from their list of top marine biology colleges can go on to pursue a graduate degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Graduate students can specialize their studies to one of the following areas:

  • Behavior
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Marine Biology
  • Paleobiology
  • Plant Biology
  • Physiological Ecology
  • Theory
  • Tropical Biology

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University of Guelph Review


The University of Guelph in Guelph, Canada is one of the best colleges for marine biology, and it offers a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Freshwater Biology.

The University of Guelph is one of the best colleges for marine biology and has a great reputation for its aquatic research initiatives. Students pursue coursework in the “ecology, evolution, genetics, and physiology of aquatic biota as they study freshwater and marine environments.”

As one of the top colleges for marine biology, the University of Guelph also offers students the opportunity to conduct independent research programs. Colleges that offer marine biology have to do more than just provide instruction. They must also give students the chance to get hands-on research experience in the field and the lab.

Program Requirements

As one of the top marine biology colleges, the University of Guelph has specific requirements that students must meet in order to receive their degree. Some of those courses include:

  • Discovering Biodiversity
  • General Chemistry I
  • Elements of Calculus I
  • Physics for Life Sciences
  • Biological Concepts of Health
  • Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
  • General Chemistry II
  • Physics for Life Sciences II
  • Ecology
  • Evolution
  • Vertebrate Structure and Function
  • Introduction to Biochemistry
  • Foundations in Molecular Biology and Concepts
  • Biostatistics for Integrative Biology
  • Invertebrate Morphology and Evolution
  • Introduction to Aquatic Environments
  • Comparative Animal Physiology I
  • Lab Studies in Animal Physiology I
  • Integrative Biology of Invertebrates
  • Populations, Communications, and Ecosystems
  • Developmental Biology
  • Comparative Animal Physiology II
  • Lab Studies in Animal Physiology II
  • Limnology of Natural and Polluted Waters
  • Integrative Marine and Freshwater Research
  • Adaptational Physiology
  • Biology of Fishes
  • Marine Ecological Processes

Support for Researchers

The University of Guelph is one of the top colleges for marine biology that offers extensive support for researchers and their projects. It also provides guidance for students who would like to pursue research as part of their academic career.

There are several funding opportunities, workshops and events, weekly seminars, and research alerts that let members of the Guelph community keep up-to-date with important research news.

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The Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami is one of the top colleges for marine biology. As one of the colleges with marine biology, this school offers undergraduate and graduate programs.

Undergraduate Program

The University of Miami is one of the colleges that offer marine biology for undergraduate students. They offer both a Marine Affairs program and a Marine Science program.

Students who finish the Marine Affairs program receive a Bachelor of Arts degree. Their studies can be combined with a minor in any of the following:

  • Anthropology
  • Economics
  • Ecosystem Science and Policy
  • Geography
  • International Studies
  • Latin American Studies
  • Political Science

The University of Miami is one of the top colleges that offer marine biology, and students are required to fulfill specific requirements, including the following:

  • General Biology
  • Evolution & Biodiversity
  • Principles of Chemistry I & II
  • Economic Principles: Microeconomics
  • Geological Science or Earth System History
  • Marine Science, Marine Chemistry, Marine Biology, Coastal Law, Ocean Law, Living Resources of the Ocean

Students who choose the Bachelor of Science in Marine Science will benefit from one of the good colleges for marine biology that approach the subject in an interdisciplinary way. Students can choose from the following:

  • Marine Science/Biology
  • Marine Science/Chemistry
  • Marine Science/Geological Sciences
  • Marine Science/Meteorology
  • Marine Science/Physics
  • Marine Science/Computer Science
  • Marine Science/Mathematics
  • Marine Science/Microbiology & Immunology
  • Marine Science/Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Graduate Program

The Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science is also one of the marine science colleges that offers graduate studies. Students can pursue their interest in aquatic life even further at one of the colleges that offers marine biology.

As one of the top colleges for marine biology, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences offers seven graduate programs:

  • Atmospheric Sciences
  • Marine Ecosystems & Society
  • Marine Biology & Ecology
  • Marine Geosciences
  • Meteorology & Physical Oceanography
  • Ocean Engineering
  • Ocean Sciences

Students can also apply for a PhD research assistantship. This assistantship comes with:

  • An annual stipend of $29,724
  • Tuition
  • Health insurance

best colleges for marine biology

Source: Pexels


Conclusion – Top 6 Best Marine Biology Colleges

Marine biology is an interesting field with several areas of specialization. Students who study at one of the top colleges for marine biology won’t be left wanting for choices. There are several colleges that offer marine biology and the resources students need to pursue the research that interests them.

Students who graduate from one of the top marine biology colleges can go on to pursue careers in government, academia, and more. This list of the best colleges for marine biology will hopefully put prospective students on the right track.



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