Colleges/Universities for studying marine biology in Florida?

As a junior in high school, I've been planning for going to college or university. I think I have made up my mind and I'd like to be a marine biologist. I've been researching extensively and it seems like the career that best fits who I am.

So, the question: What colleges/universities have a good marine biology program? I hear Florida State University was a good choice, but I'm still trying to decide. It's between FSU, Florida Atlantic, and FIT.

Does anyone have any experience with these schools?

 

FWIW I applied to all three and got accepted, but chose ODU (Virginia school) for its locality. From what I read, as far as marine biology degrees go, I think it was FAU > FIT > FSU hth.

 

Great info, thanks. Do you know why FAU would be the best?

 

imho you should try for woods hole in mass.

 

I'm not sure if I'd be ready to move so far away from home :-/ I'll research it, though.

 

Costs less, more focused on marine bio, where as FSU is more of a law school (It's been almost 2 years since I applied, I may be wrong).

My dad runs a company, and he told me that when he hires someone, unless they attended MIT or Harvard, it really doesn't matter where they did their undergraduate study, so you might as well save some money for when you go for doctor's/PhD.

Jacksonville University is a great option too.

 

One thing I hear a lot about is the fact that marine biologists don't make very much money. Is this true? I saw, on multiple occasions, examples where some people made $30k a year and some people that make $100k a year, so I was a bit confused.

Thanks for all of the info. It's definitely helping me make a decision.

 

I did a research paper on this 3 years ago, and found that the average marine biologist (not counting sea world people and "swim with dolphin guides" lol) with 8 years of study made on average 25-35k a year fresh out, and by the time they'd been working for 20 years, they were making 200k a year. not sure how much has changed since then.

Problem with marine biology is that it's hard for people to take you seriously when all you have is a bachelors in it. Your best bet is working at an aquarium once you get your bachelors while going for doctorate/phD.

 

That's starting to make me rethink the whole idea now. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay for 8 years of college only to make $30k, considering I'd be 25 by that time, and then I'd need to find a company to hire me. It seems like quite a lot to go through.

 

Did you look into USF?