2027 Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region

[General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology students.
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2027 Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools
University Of Nebraska Lincoln earned the #1 spot for value among general atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public school located in the city of Lincoln. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,434, while out-of-state students pay about $28,584. Students borrow a median of $22,386 to complete the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Early-career general atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $49,755. That is a strong return on a $22,386 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Iowa State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general atmospheric sciences & meteorology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,787 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $23,496 in student loans. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $54,204 early in their careers. Set against $23,496 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri Columbia one of the best values for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $18,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $41,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.