Marine Biology Degree in Westminster, CO — Salary & ROI 2026
Marine Biology degree analysis for Westminster, CO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$64K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7 yrs
in Westminster
Cost of Living
103.8
index (100 = avg)
Marine Biology in Westminster, CO Overview
While Westminster has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Marine Biology students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,873/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Marine Biology enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Scuba Diving and Marine Ecology. The adjusted starting salary in Westminster is approximately $51,900.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$12,200/yr
Private Tuition
$38,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,873/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,973/yr
Unemployment
2.9%
Graduation Rate
66%
Marine Biology Salary in Westminster (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Westminster's cost of living index of 103.8 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Marine Biology salary: $50,000 starting, $62,000 mid-career, $78,000 senior level.Westminster adjustment factor: 1.04x based on the local cost of living index.
Marine Biology ROI Calculator for Westminster
Estimate your return on investment for a Marine Biology degree using local Westminster tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,200 | Private avg: $38,000
Westminster avg aid: $8,973/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,292
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,570
vs HS diploma in Westminster
ROI Payback Period
7 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Westminster
$151,208
Lifetime earnings premium ($259,500) minus total education cost ($108,292)
Student Loan Payoff for Marine Biology in Westminster
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Westminster for Marine Biology
Westminster State University
public
$12,100/yr
$48,400 total
University of Westminster
public
$10,429/yr
$41,716 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Westminster Community College
$5,187/yr
Top Employers for Marine Biology in Westminster
Westminster offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Marine Biology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Westminster Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Marine Biology Job Titles
Marine Biology in Nearby Colorado Cities
Denver, CO
$64K starting · COL 128
31 colleges
Colorado Springs, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
22 colleges
Aurora, CO
$56K starting · COL 111
28 colleges
Fort Collins, CO
$63K starting · COL 126
5 colleges
Lakewood, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.8
6 colleges
Thornton, CO
$51K starting · COL 102.5
6 colleges
Arvada, CO
$53K starting · COL 105.5
5 colleges
Pueblo, CO
$61K starting · COL 122
13 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Westminster
Prompt Engineering
$52K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$99K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$88K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$91K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$85K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$83K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Marine Biology Degree in Westminster — 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 Westminster.