2026 Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Southeast Region
[Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/meteorology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value meteorology schools.
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2026 Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in meteorology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Meteorology Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Charlotte the best value for a degree in meteorology in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,492. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the meteorology program here. Meteorology graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $51,799 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Alabama earned it the #2 place for meteorology. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,116, with out-of-state students paying around $19,092. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the meteorology program here. Soon after graduation, meteorology degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $51,592. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Students looking for strong value in meteorology will find it at Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. 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. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University admits about 55% of applicants.
University Of Miami came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value meteorology schools. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,616. Students borrow a median of $17,750 to complete the meteorology program here. Meteorology graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 19%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
