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Marine Sciences at University of Maine

Orono, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,243/yr (5% vs median)
AI Risk High (41% exposed)
Job Market Large (40,700 openings/yr)
ROI 11.3x earnings multiple (4.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #1 of 3 Marine Sciences programs Top 50%

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 $579K $571K $525K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.5x 11.3x 10.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.1x 4.0x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 44% 35%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 32 32

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$50,424
Out-of-state: $141,384 (4.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,180
-43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
11.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,546
90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $29,243/yr, roughly in line with the $27,949 national median for Marine Sciences. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 11.3x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 41% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$29,243 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

With only 3 programs offering Marine Sciences nationally, this is a niche field. University of Maine ranks #1 among them.

Earnings growth from $29,243 to $55,546 over five years (90% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Maine

University of Maine accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 8,341 students in Orono, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Maine →

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

Compare this program → View all 3 schools offering Marine Sciences →

Marine Sciences at Other Schools

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo ($27,337) California State University-Monterey Bay ($27,268)

Other Majors at University of Maine

Chemical Engineering ($78,838) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($77,737) Computer Science ($77,046) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,037) Computer Engineering ($75,282) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($73,692) Mechanical Engineering ($69,687) Construction Engineering Technologies ($65,540)

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Maine's Marine Sciences program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Marine Sciences. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Marine Sciences to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Marine Sciences careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 41% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →