Marine Biology Degree in Modesto, CA — Salary & ROI 2026
Marine Biology degree analysis for Modesto, CA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$81K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Modesto
Cost of Living
130
index (100 = avg)
Marine Biology in Modesto, CA Overview
Modesto, California (pop. 218,464) has 9 colleges offering Marine Biology programs. The local cost of living index of 130 is higher than average, so budget accordingly, with average rent near campus at $1,224/month. Marine Biology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Scuba Diving and Marine Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Modesto is approximately $65,000.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
9
Public Tuition
$1,540/yr
Private Tuition
$57,167/yr
Room & Board
$18,295/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$10,378/yr
Unemployment
4.2%
Graduation Rate
63%
Marine Biology Salary in Modesto (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Modesto's cost of living index of 130 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Marine Biology salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Modesto adjustment factor: 1.30x based on the local cost of living index.
Marine Biology ROI Calculator for Modesto
Estimate your return on investment for a Marine Biology degree using local Modesto tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $1,540 | Private avg: $57,167
Modesto avg aid: $10,378/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,340
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,500
vs HS diploma in Modesto
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Modesto
$245,660
Lifetime earnings premium ($325,000) minus total education cost ($79,340)
Student Loan Payoff for Marine Biology in Modesto
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Modesto for Marine Biology
Modesto Junior College
public
$1,540/yr
$6,160 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Modesto Junior College
$1,540/yr
Top Employers for Marine Biology in Modesto
Modesto offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Marine Biology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Modesto Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Marine Biology Job Titles
Marine Biology in Nearby California Cities
Los Angeles, CA
$71K starting · COL 141
69 colleges
San Diego, CA
$70K starting · COL 140
68 colleges
San Jose, CA
$65K starting · COL 129
95 colleges
San Francisco, CA
$57K starting · COL 114
22 colleges
Fresno, CA
$59K starting · COL 118
37 colleges
Sacramento, CA
$56K starting · COL 112
38 colleges
Long Beach, CA
$58K starting · COL 116
14 colleges
Oakland, CA
$66K starting · COL 132
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Modesto
Prompt Engineering
$65K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$124K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$111K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$114K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$107K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics
$111K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$65K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$104K starting · 3 yr ROI
Marine Biology Degree in Modesto — 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 Modesto.