Ocean Engineeringat Florida Atlantic University
Graduates earn $67,941/yr in their first year — about 3.0% below the national Ocean Engineering average. Base-case 10-year earnings $790K; scenarios range from $692K to $818K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic's Ocean Engineering program offers a truly unique path, deeply integrated with its coastal Boca Raton location. Your career trajectory here is shaped by direct access to the Atlantic Ocean and strong regional demand for expertise in marine infrastructure, coastal protection, and autonomous underwater systems. While initial earnings might reflect Florida's specific labor market dynamics and cost of living compared to other highly specialized regions, the program's strong ties to local consulting firms, naval contractors, and marine research institutions provide excellent pipelines. You'll likely enter roles focused on port development, renewable ocean energy, or subsea robotics, with management pathways opening as your experience grows. Given the field's evolving nature and increasing automation, actively pursuing internships in areas like sensor integration or data analytics will be crucial for long-term career resilience.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Florida Atlantic University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Ocean Engineering
How Florida Atlantic University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Florida Atlantic University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Florida Atlantic University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Ocean Engineering at Florida Atlantic University
How does Florida Atlantic University's Ocean Engineering program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Florida Atlantic University's Ocean Engineering graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Ocean Engineering to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Ocean Engineering careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does Florida Atlantic University rank so high for Ocean Engineering?
The #1 ranking out of 4 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.