Marine Biology Degree in Grand Rapids, MI — Salary & ROI 2026
Marine Biology degree analysis for Grand Rapids, MI. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$44K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$55K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
8 yrs
in Grand Rapids
Cost of Living
88
index (100 = avg)
Marine Biology in Grand Rapids, MI Overview
Grand Rapids, Michigan (pop. 198,917) has 10 colleges offering Marine Biology programs. The local cost of living index of 88 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $929/month. Marine Biology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Scuba Diving and Marine Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Grand Rapids is approximately $44,000.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$13,394/yr
Private Tuition
$39,440/yr
Room & Board
$13,041/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$7,857/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
63%
Marine Biology Salary in Grand Rapids (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Grand Rapids's cost of living index of 88 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Marine Biology salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Grand Rapids adjustment factor: 0.88x based on the local cost of living index.
Marine Biology ROI Calculator for Grand Rapids
Estimate your return on investment for a Marine Biology degree using local Grand Rapids tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $13,394 | Private avg: $39,440
Grand Rapids avg aid: $7,857/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$105,740
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$13,200
vs HS diploma in Grand Rapids
ROI Payback Period
8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Grand Rapids
$114,260
Lifetime earnings premium ($220,000) minus total education cost ($105,740)
Student Loan Payoff for Marine Biology in Grand Rapids
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Grand Rapids for Marine Biology
Grand Valley State University
public
$13,394/yr
$53,576 total
Calvin University
private
$39,440/yr
$157,760 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Grand Rapids Community College
$4,296/yr
Top Employers for Marine Biology in Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Marine Biology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Grand Rapids Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Marine Biology Job Titles
Marine Biology in Nearby Michigan Cities
Detroit, MI
$44K starting · COL 87
43 colleges
Warren, MI
$44K starting · COL 88.5
6 colleges
Sterling Heights, MI
$46K starting · COL 92.8
5 colleges
Ann Arbor, MI
$43K starting · COL 85
14 colleges
Lansing, MI
$43K starting · COL 85
6 colleges
Dearborn, MI
$45K starting · COL 90.5
5 colleges
Clinton Township, MI
$48K starting · COL 96.2
4 colleges
Canton Township, MI
$47K starting · COL 93.5
4 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Grand Rapids
Prompt Engineering
$44K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$84K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$75K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$77K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$72K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$70K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$44K starting · 3 yr ROI
Marine Biology Degree in Grand Rapids — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Marine Biology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Grand Rapids.