2026 Best General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region
General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall general atmospheric sciences & meteorology education in the Great Lakes Region.
Top Schools in General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology
Our analysis ranked University Of Michigan Ann Arbor the best school in the country for a degree in general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. About 93% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 23 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
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A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 34 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $41,026 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,311.
Read more about the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Madison one of the top schools for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. About 90% of students finish within six years. About 34 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $36,790. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans.
See the full general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 18 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree.
See the full general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
A rank of #5 makes Northern Illinois University one of the top schools for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. There were roughly 11 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Illinois University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program make about $52,308 in their early career. Northern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general atmospheric sciences & meteorology from Northern Illinois University
Valparaiso University came in at #6 for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology this year. Set in the suburb of Valparaiso, Valparaiso University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 17 general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees were awarded at Valparaiso University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree from Valparaiso University earn around $51,987 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,000.
Read more about the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology program at Valparaiso University
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 19 schools evaluated.
- 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.