Florida Atlantic University MS in Ocean Engineering: Fees, Living Costs, Test Scores, Visa Process, Work during Study, Entry Requirements.

Master of Science [M.S] [Ocean Engineering] From Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FloridaLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1961established year
30208enrollment
Public
Partner [3 Courses]
8.1/10

Master of Science [M.S] (Ocean Engineering)

2 years
Full Time
On Campus

Field of Study: 

$19,792 /Yr

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Study Abroad Team

Updated on - Oct 26, 2026

Florida Atlantic University Master of Science in Ocean Engineering is a 30-credit, full-time, in-person degree using Boca Raton and Dania Beach facilities, with no completion duration published. Applicants need a bachelor’s in engineering, science or mathematics and GPA 3.0 on 4.0, approximately 60% to 65% or CGPA 6.0 to 6.5 on 10. Calculated 2026-27 non-resident tuition is US$33,751.80 (INR 32.05 Lakhs) for the Summer 2027 intake.

The programme combines mathematical methods, data analysis and physical oceanography with specialisation in acoustics, hydrodynamics, corrosion, marine structures and autonomous vehicles. Graduate work can occur at Boca Raton or the ocean-side SeaTech facility, so research fit also affects campus location. It suits applicants who can choose between thesis research and broader coursework early.

  • Students can select a thesis, non-thesis or non-thesis route with a business minor within the 30-credit degree.
  • The shared core connects ocean science with quantitative engineering before students build specialist depth through advisor-approved subjects.
  • Every student forms a thesis or advisory committee, making faculty alignment a practical first-semester requirement.

Current Admission Status

Applications for the Summer 2027 intake are Open. International student deadline: 01 March 2027.

The EngineeringCAS cycle covers Summer 2027 and is accepting applications. Indian applicants should complete transcript evaluation before the final portal cutoff because document processing can delay an otherwise complete file.

Also Check: Florida Atlantic University graduate admission

FAU MS Ocean Engineering Fees and Living Costs 2027

Summer 2027 uses FAU’s 2026-27 non-resident graduate rate of US$1,125.06 per credit (INR 1.07 Lakhs). Applied to the 30-credit curriculum, this rate produces calculated degree tuition of US$33,751.80 (INR 32.05 Lakhs).

Target-cycle fee basis: The official rate includes listed tuition and required per-credit fees for non-resident graduate students. FAU bills registered credits by term, so the calculated degree amount is not a fixed programme invoice.

Cost itemAmount in US$INR valueBasis
Non-resident graduate rate per creditUS$1,125.06INR 1.07 LakhsOfficial 2026-27 rate
Required 30 creditsUS$33,751.80INR 32.05 LakhsCalculated tuition
Application feeUS$30INR 2,848Non-refundable
Graduate orientation feeUS$35INR 3,323First registered semester
Summer transportation access feeUS$32.04INR 3,042Assessed per summer term
Fall or spring transportation access feeUS$76.90INR 7,302Assessed per listed term

All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of US$1 = INR 94.9481 as of 26 October 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.

Source: FAU Tuition and Billing Services, 2026-27 graduate non-resident schedule.

The same 30-credit minimum applies across the thesis and non-thesis paths, which keeps base tuition comparable. However, prerequisite or remedial subjects cannot replace required graduate credits and would increase the billed amount.

Cost of Living in Boca Raton for Ocean Engineering Students

FAU estimates combined housing, meals, transportation and incidentals at US$25,758 (INR 24.46 Lakhs) for 12 months. Its financial certificate keeps medical insurance separate, so the table preserves that distinction.

ExpenseMonthly US$Monthly INR valueAnnual US$Annual INR value
Combined living expensesUS$2,146INR 2.04 LakhsUS$25,758INR 24.46 Lakhs
Medical insuranceUS$175.25INR 16,640US$2,103INR 2.00 Lakhs
TotalUS$2,321.25INR 2.20 LakhsUS$27,861INR 26.45 Lakhs

The monthly insurance amount is calculated by dividing FAU’s annual charge by 12. It is not a housing estimate, while the combined living line should not be treated as a visa-maintenance substitute.

FAU’s budget does not distinguish Boca Raton from Dania Beach housing. Applicants expecting SeaTech research should test commuting and housing choices within the combined allowance rather than inventing a separate campus estimate.

A degree-and-12-month planning illustration is US$62,997.80 (INR 59.82 Lakhs). It combines 30-credit tuition, living expenses, books, insurance, application and orientation, but excludes travel and semester transportation fees.

FAU publishes no fixed completion duration, so a plan extending beyond 12 months needs another living-cost allowance. Thesis applicants should align research timing and course availability before fixing the loan period.

Read More: cost of living in the USA for students

ROI reality: Tuition is INR 32.05 Lakhs, while one official living period lifts the planning illustration to INR 59.82 Lakhs. Confirm the study sequence before setting the loan tenure.

FAU MS Ocean Engineering Admission 2027

Admission requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, science or mathematics and GPA 3.0 on 4.0 in the final 60 credits. The Graduate Record Examination, called GRE, is not required for this master’s programme.

Indian credential context: FAU publishes no India-specific graduate conversion. GPA 3.0 is approximately 60% to 65% or CGPA 6.0 to 6.5 on 10, while FAU decides official equivalency.

RequirementPublished standardIndian applicant action
Prior degreeBachelor’s in engineering, science or mathematicsMap quantitative and engineering preparation to the intended specialisation
Academic scoreGPA 3.0 on 4.0 in the last 60 creditsUse approximately 60% to 65% or CGPA 6.0 to 6.5 on 10 only for planning
Foreign credentialsGeneral evaluation by FAU or a NACES memberArrange authenticated records and translations early
GRENot requiredInvest preparation time in programme fit and supporting materials
Advisory structureThesis or advisory committee required before the plan of studyIdentify relevant faculty research before enrolment

NACES means National Association of Credential Evaluation Services. Applicants may use a current member such as World Education Services or request FAU’s internal evaluation after sending official records.

FAU’s 2026 U.S. News National Universities position is 374, but this is an overall institutional rank. It does not measure Ocean Engineering curriculum quality or graduate employment.

The programme’s three paths share at least 15 credits from the Ocean Engineering core list. Thesis students also complete at least six thesis credits and defend their work successfully.

Non-thesis applicants trade the extended research project for more approved coursework, while the business-minor path adds management context. The decision should follow research goals rather than assumed placement differences.

English Language Proficiency

The current graduate profile states TOEFL 4.5, IELTS 6.0 and Duolingo 110. However, the department page still states TOEFL 79 on the internet-based scale without publishing a conversion between the two formats.

RoutePublished minimumApplicant action
TOEFL on current graduate profile4.5Confirm the accepted report format before booking
TOEFL on department page79 internet-based, 550 paper-based or 213 computer-basedDo not self-convert between scales
IELTS6.0 overallSend the official result to FAU Graduate College
Duolingo English Test110Designate FAU Graduate College as recipient
English-medium study exceptionAt least 60 postsecondary credits or an associate degree or higher with full English curriculumRequest written confirmation before omitting a test
  • IELTS gives Indian applicants a clearly published 6.0 route without requiring interpretation of FAU’s two TOEFL presentations.
  • TOEFL users should send the exact test format to FAU and secure confirmation before relying on either published number.
  • English-medium degree holders should document the full curriculum because a medium-of-instruction letter alone does not establish the published exception.

Check Out: Florida Atlantic University graduate programmes

English-score note

The official Ocean Engineering profile states TOEFL 4.5, while the department retains 79 on the older scale. Ask FAU which report applies before paying for TOEFL.

Tip for Indian students: The broad degree eligibility still demands quantitative readiness for the shared core. Resolve credential evaluation, faculty fit and the TOEFL presentation difference before submission.

FAU MS Ocean Engineering Application 2027

The earliest open entry is Summer 2027, with an international deadline of 01 March 2027. FAU also accepts Ocean Engineering applications for Fall and Spring, so applicants can choose among three forward-looking starts.

International schedule: The earlier international dates control planning, although the programme summary also displays later unqualified dates. EngineeringCAS accepts submissions until 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the listed deadline.

IntakeInternational deadlineIST equivalentPlanning implication
Summer 202701 March 2027, 11:59 PM EST02 March 2027, 10:29 AM ISTEarliest available start
Fall 202701 June 2027, 11:59 PM EDT02 June 2027, 9:29 AM ISTMore preparation time before entry
Spring 202801 October 2027, 11:59 PM EDT02 October 2027, 9:29 AM ISTLatest published forward start

Eastern Standard Time is EST, Eastern Daylight Time is EDT and Indian Standard Time is IST. The Eastern Time deadline controls, while FAU publishes no decision dates for this programme.

Applicants submit through FAU’s EngineeringCAS route. The programme page requires separate supplemental uploads and prevents submission until all required materials are attached.

  • Select Ocean Engineering in the 2026-27 EngineeringCAS cycle and pay the US$30 application fee (INR 2,848).
  • Order official degree records, translations and a general credential evaluation before the document-processing period becomes the limiting step.
  • Send the accepted English result directly and verify its receipt because the two official TOEFL presentations require advance confirmation.
  • Describe the intended specialisation and research direction so the department can assess preparation for its quantitative core and advisory structure.

Applicants using FAU’s internal foreign evaluation must deliver official documents 30 days before the deadline. For Summer 2027, that requirement makes 30 January 2027 the practical document-arrival target.

Summer offers the earliest entry, but its shorter preparation window can constrain credential processing and funding discussions. Fall allows more time to identify faculty alignment, while Spring postpones enrolment until 2028.

Application tip: Treat 01 March 2027 as the submission ceiling, not the document-ordering date. Complete the evaluation file by 30 January because FAU cannot process missing international credentials.

FAU MS Ocean Engineering Scholarships 2027

FAU publishes four relevant funding routes worth US$1,000 to US$5,000 (INR 94,948 to INR 4.75 Lakhs). Only the Graduate Dean’s Fellowship can accompany admission, but it requires an assistantship rather than a separate student application.

Funding status: The Academic Excellence fellowship has a 2027 application window. The remaining awards are current published opportunities, but FAU does not label their values or deadlines specifically for Summer 2027.

Funding routePublished valueINR equivalentEligibilityApplication route or date
Graduate Dean’s FellowshipUS$2,500INR 2.37 LakhsNew full-time master’s student holding a qualifying assistantshipProgramme selection with no student application
Dr. Steven G. Schock ScholarshipUS$1,000INR 94,948Ocean Engineering graduate student pursuing underwater acoustics workCollege application; current deadline not published
Gangal Family Endowed Graduate ScholarshipUS$5,000INR 4.75 LakhsFull-time international engineering graduate student with GPA 3.5College route; current deadline not published
Graduate Fellowship for Academic ExcellenceUS$5,000INR 4.75 LakhsFull-time student after one FAU semester with graduate GPA 3.5023 February to 08 May 2027

The Schock award has the clearest programme fit because it explicitly includes Ocean Engineering and underwater acoustic technology. Its possible paid internship is an opportunity, not part of the guaranteed US$1,000 value (INR 94,948).

The Gangal scholarship is genuinely open to international engineering graduate students, although biomedical engineering receives preference. Its US$5,000 value (INR 4.75 Lakhs) therefore remains competitive rather than automatic for Ocean Engineering students.

  • Ask about assistantship-linked nomination during admission because the Dean’s Fellowship cannot be pursued through a separate form.
  • Use a proposed acoustics project and relevant technical work to establish fit for the Schock scholarship after checking the live deadline.
  • Keep full-time enrolment and GPA 3.5 to preserve eligibility for both Gangal and Academic Excellence funding.
  • Exclude the Graduate Access Fellowship because FAU states that students holding visas are not eligible.

Read More: scholarships in the USA for Indian students

Funding note

Only assistantship holders can receive the incoming Dean’s Fellowship, while the larger verified awards depend on specialised fit or prior FAU performance. Finance the initial term without assuming any award.

Scholarship reality: Verified awards can reduce cost, but none removes the INR 59.82 Lakhs planning requirement before admission. Treat funding as upside until FAU confirms an award in writing.

FAU MS Ocean Engineering Salary 2027

FAU publishes no M.S. Ocean Engineering cohort salary, offer rate, sector mix or employer list. Federal marine-engineering wages provide market context, but they do not describe outcomes from this programme.

External market benchmark: The United States median for marine engineers and naval architects was US$112,230 (INR 1.07 Crore) in May 2025. The occupation spans vessels, offshore projects and coastal structures.

May 2025 evidenceMedian annual wageINR valueEmployment shareScope
Marine engineers and naval architectsUS$112,230INR 1.07 CroreAll sectorsExternal occupation benchmark
Water transportationUS$128,770INR 1.22 Crore4%External industry benchmark
Federal governmentUS$124,760INR 1.18 Crore13%External industry benchmark
Professional, scientific and technical servicesUS$118,630INR 1.13 Crore22%External industry benchmark
Ship and boat buildingUS$104,800INR 99.51 Lakhs51%External industry benchmark

Source: BLS marine engineer and naval architect data, May 2025.

BLS means Bureau of Labor Statistics. It projects 7% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 500 openings yearly, but neither figure measures FAU graduate demand.

The occupation is narrower than FAU’s research areas, which also cover imaging, communications, renewable energy, corrosion and autonomous systems. Students should map electives to a defined role rather than assume one labour category fits every pathway.

Gross wages do not equal take-home pay because taxes and deductions depend on location and personal circumstances. Model an actual offer with the IRS withholding estimator.

Return on Investment for Indian Students

The calculated degree-and-12-month cost is US$62,997.80 (INR 59.82 Lakhs). Since course-specific employment evidence is unpublished, the financing decision must remain workable without using the national occupational median as expected starting pay.

  • The INR 59.82 Lakhs illustration excludes extra living time, so price the approved course and research sequence before choosing a loan tenure.
  • The BLS median is INR 1.07 Crore, but experienced workers influence it and FAU reports no course-level starting salary.
  • The US$5,000 scholarships equal INR 4.75 Lakhs, yet prior FAU performance or competitive selection prevents guaranteed tuition reduction.
  • Eligible graduates may combine 12 months of OPT with a 24-month STEM extension, making degree-related employer access central to United States ROI.
  • An India return requires modelling Indian ocean-technology compensation against dollar debt instead of converting a United States occupational median.

The thesis route adds research and defence obligations that suit doctoral or technical-development goals, while non-thesis study offers broader course selection. Neither path carries published placement evidence, so select by portfolio value.

ROI reality: The programme targets specialised ocean systems, but FAU publishes no course-cohort employment report. Commit only when financing works without assumed scholarships, assistantships or national median pay.

US Visa for FAU MS Ocean Engineering Students 2027

International students need F-1 status after FAU issues an I-20 and accepts financial evidence. Current government charges are US$185 (INR 17,565) for the visa and US$350 (INR 33,232) for SEVIS, totalling US$535 (INR 50,797).

  • Optional Practical Training, called OPT, provides 12 months of degree-related work and qualifying Ocean Engineering graduates may request a 24-month STEM extension.
  • The STEM extension requires the eligible programme code, degree-related duties and an E-Verify employer with the required training plan.
  • An H-1B position needs employer sponsorship and the higher applicable actual or prevailing wage because no single national salary threshold applies.
  • An F-2 spouse or unmarried child under 21 may accompany the student, but F-2 dependants cannot work and no degree creates automatic permanent residence.

Read More: post-study work options in the USA

Visa reality: Ocean Engineering can support up to 36 months of OPT when the programme code, job and employer satisfy each rule. That work window does not guarantee sponsorship.

FAU’s M.S. Ocean Engineering fits quantitatively prepared applicants seeking marine-systems depth through coursework or supervised research across two facilities. Its advisory structure rewards early clarity about faculty, technical direction and campus location. The material tradeoff is an INR 59.82 Lakhs planning illustration without guaranteed funding or course-level employment evidence. Choose Summer 2027 only after confirming credentials, study sequence and finance before the 01 March deadline.

Florida Atlantic University MS Ocean Engineering FAQs

Ques. Should an Indian applicant choose the thesis or non-thesis route?

Ans. Choose the thesis for original research, faculty supervision and doctoral preparation. Choose non-thesis study for wider coursework, while the business-minor path suits applicants needing management context.

Ques. Can a science or mathematics graduate qualify for FAU Ocean Engineering?

Ans. Yes, FAU accepts engineering, science or mathematics degrees. However, applicants should show preparation for advanced mathematics, data analysis and ocean science because broad eligibility does not remove technical demands.

Ques. What budget should an Indian student secure before accepting admission?

Ans. Use US$62,997.80 (INR 59.82 Lakhs) for tuition plus one 12-month living period, books, insurance, application and orientation. Add travel, transportation fees and extra living time separately.

Ques. Is Summer 2027 the best intake for an international applicant?

Ans. Summer is the earliest open start, but its 01 March deadline compresses credential and funding work. Fall allows more preparation, while Spring shifts entry to 2028.

Ques. Can salary and STEM OPT make this degree financially worthwhile?

Ans. The 36-month potential work window improves career access, but FAU publishes no course-cohort salary. Affordability should survive without scholarships, sponsorship or the national occupation median.


Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
Tuition Fees$19792

Other Expenses

HeadAvg Cost Per Year
Books and supply$1320
Miscellaneous expenses$5454

Previous Year Tuition Fees

Year1st Year Fees
2023$19456

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Career and Placement after Course

By finishing the MS in ocean engineering from the Florida Atlantic University you may find opportunities such as:

  • Marine Field Operations Specialist
  • Oiler or Assistant Engineer
  • SHIP MANAGER
  • Engineer I - Marine
  • Marine Surveyor
  • Naval Architect and more.


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