by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 70 U.S. colleges awarded 965 degrees and certificates in General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 53% of graduates. College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $40,631 one year after completing, rising to $62,453 after four years.
A major in General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology explores Atmospheric Sciences And Meteorology, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Composition And Behavior Of The Atmospheric Envelopes Surrounding The Earth, The Effect Of Earth's Atmosphere On Terrestrial Weather, And Related Problems Of Environment And Climate. Includes Instruction In Atmospheric Chemistry And Physics, Atmospheric Dynamics, Climatology And Climate Change, Weather Simulation, Weather Forecasting, Climate Modeling And Mathematical Theory; And Studies Of Specific Phenomena Such As Clouds, Weather Systems, Storms, And Precipitation Patterns. Examples: [Atmospheric Sciences].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., general atmospheric sciences & meteorology is a popular field of study, with 965 degrees awarded annually. 70 colleges award general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees, an average of 14 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 56.
By level, the 965 awards include 5 associate degrees, 510 bachelor’s degrees, 314 master’s degrees and 136 doctorates.
Women earned 43% of general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees and certificates in the latest year (413 of 965). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (669) and Hispanic or Latino (89), and international students earned 83.
College Factual ranks 23 schools in its 2027 Best General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools ranking, including 17 for bachelor’s degrees, 9 for master’s degrees and 5 for doctorates. It also ranks general atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools within 17 states. In all, 70 colleges offer general atmospheric sciences & meteorology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general atmospheric sciences & meteorology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 510 of the 965 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general atmospheric sciences & meteorology call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 510 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 314 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 136 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general atmospheric sciences & meteorology, at 32.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.0% |
| Master’s degree | 24.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 13.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 9.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.6% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET Online.
8 occupations are related to General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology, with an average median salary of $102,858; the strongest outlook belongs to Quality Control Analysts, at 12.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager and Mineralogy Professor.
The occupation related to general atmospheric sciences & meteorology with the most projected jobs is Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, at 615,002.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | 615,002 | 10.3% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Quality Control Analysts | 105,873 | 12.9% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | 71,781 | 0.4% |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 59,685 | 7.3% |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | 30,427 | -2.2% |
General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates earn a median $40,631 one year after completing their program, $62,453 after four years and $61,111 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $40,631 |
| 4 years | $62,453 |
| 5 years | $61,111 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general atmospheric sciences & meteorology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Remote Sensing Technicians | $99,834 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $95,957 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $77,973 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $72,801 |
| Quality Control Analysts | $53,423 |
General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology has 3 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 332 degrees a year; the largest are Meteorology (276), Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other (45) and Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology (11). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Meteorology | 276 |
| Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other | 45 |
| Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
