Marine Sciences at California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
31 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
31
Optimistic
31
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $27,268/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Large (40,700 openings/yr)
ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 3 Marine Sciences programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Marine Sciences graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $508K $506K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 17.0x 15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.6x 6.6x 6.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 31 31 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,748
Out-of-state: $77,268 (6.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$57,948
-95% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,149
7.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,771
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $27,268/yr, roughly in line with the $27,949 national median for Marine Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Marine Sciences programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Marine Sciences's typical career paths, with 41% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $17,149 represents roughly 8 months of the $27,268 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

This program is one of 3 schools offering Marine Sciences in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

Five-year earnings of $45,771 show a 68% jump from the $27,268 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-Monterey Bay

California State University-Monterey Bay accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 5,811 in Seaside, CA. With 43% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Monterey Bay →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Physical scientists, all other $117,960/yr
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers $99,240/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Marine Sciences at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-Monterey Bay

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Marine Sciences at California State University-Monterey Bay?
A score of 31/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Marine Sciences. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Marine Sciences careers?
With 41% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $474,150 in decade earnings vs $507,553 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →