by our College Data Analytics TeamAquaculture was the 980th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 148 degrees in this year alone. This 9 less than the prior year, a decrease of 6.1%.
Our 2023 Best Aquaculture Schools ranking analyzes 3 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for aquaculture students. Explore this or one of our many other custom aquaculture rankings further below.
When studying Aquaculture, you’ll learn that talking to others to convey information effectively will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs. Required skills include using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and monitoring/assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific aquaculture careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Aquaculture degree levels vary. Aquaculture programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest aquaculture degree you can get. Different aquaculture degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to aquaculture, with approximately 36.0% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for aquaculture workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 35.7% |
| High School Diploma | 17.0% |
| Doctoral Degree | 11.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 8.7% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 8.5% |
Most workers in aquaculture have at least a bachelor's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in aquaculture have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the aquaculture career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your aquaculture degree?
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to aquaculture.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | 1,020,700 | -0.8% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors | 49,700 | 2.1% |
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | 13,600 | 7.9% |
As you might expect, salaries for aquaculture graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for aquaculture graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers aquaculture grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Sciences Professors | $90,890 |
| Farmers, Ranchers, and Agricultural Managers | $79,940 |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Worker Supervisors | $50,790 |
With over 40 different aquaculture degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased aquaculture school rankings to help you with this.
One of 7 majors within the Agricultural Production area of study, Aquaculture has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Animal/Livestock Husbandry & Production | 878 |
| Agricultural Production Operations | 605 |
| Agroecology & Sustainable Agriculture | 552 |
| Horse Husbandry/Equine Science & Management | 436 |
| Crop Production | 350 |
