by our College Data Analytics Team
[Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/meteorology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong meteorology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for meteorology students.
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The right meteorology school can pay off for years to come. That is why we developed our Best Value Meteorology Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Meteorology Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in meteorology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Our analysis ranked Western Illinois University the best value for a degree in meteorology in the United States. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,572. Students borrow a median of $27,639 to complete the meteorology program here. Early-career meteorology graduates make about $47,926. Set against $27,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Cloud State University earned it the #2 place for meteorology. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Meteorology graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Early-career meteorology graduates make about $51,625. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value meteorology schools. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Norman. Students from in state pay about $9,797 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,377. Typical student debt for meteorology graduates is $21,900. Early-career meteorology graduates make about $44,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus admits about 77% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value meteorology schools. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the meteorology program here. Soon after graduation, meteorology degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $51,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
University Of South Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in meteorology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Meteorology graduates carry a median of $26,513 in student loans. Meteorology graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $51,592 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University placed #6 among the best values for meteorology. Iowa State University is a very large public school located in the city of Ames. In-state tuition and fees average $10,787, with out-of-state students paying around $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete the meteorology program here. Early-career meteorology graduates make about $54,204. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Rutgers University New Brunswick landed the #7 spot for meteorology value this year. Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public school located in the city of New Brunswick. In-state tuition and fees average $17,929, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,120 to complete the meteorology program here. Meteorology graduates of Rutgers University New Brunswick earn a median of $58,402 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value meteorology schools. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,948 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for meteorology graduates is $23,500. Meteorology graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $43,494 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Explore other best-value rankings in majors related to Meteorology. Browse the parent area of study.
This ranking is produced 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 · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.