2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Far Western Region
[Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong atmospheric sciences & meteorology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for atmospheric sciences & meteorology students.
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2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools
Leading the list is University Of California San Diego, our #1 best value for atmospheric sciences & meteorology in the Far Western Region. University Of California San Diego is a very large public school located in the city of La Jolla. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,788, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Students borrow a median of $17,101 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 27%.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Students looking for strong value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology will find it at University Of California Los Angeles, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $16,097. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 12 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.
