2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Master’s Degree Schools

[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 114 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 United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools
For return on investment in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, no school beat Florida State University this year. Florida State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Students from in state pay about $6,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,683 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $27,125. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from Florida State University generally make around $39,967. Set against $27,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Florida State University admits about 24% of applicants.
University Of Utah is a great value for students pursuing a degree in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,620, with out-of-state students paying around $30,860. Students borrow a median of $20,798 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Utah earn a median of $60,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology will find it at University Of Washington Seattle Campus, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Seattle, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, with out-of-state students paying around $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. Set against $16,481 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Washington Seattle Campus admits about 39% of applicants.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $63,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earned it the #5 place for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,848, compared with $63,081 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,137 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor generally make around $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 16% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $22,311 in student loans. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $41,026. That is a strong return on a $22,311 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #7 among the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, with out-of-state students paying around $42,103. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $21,813 in student loans. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $36,790 early in their careers. Set against $21,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 45% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & 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. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $21,900 in student loans. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Oklahoma Norman Campus earn a median of $44,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado State University Fort Collins placed #9 among the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,373, with out-of-state students paying around $35,061. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $22,843 in student loans. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of Colorado State University Fort Collins earn a median of $51,693 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #10 spot for atmospheric sciences & meteorology value this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $20,373 in student loans. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Miami earned the #12 position for value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology this year. Set in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,616. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $17,750. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of $57,234 early in their careers. Set against $17,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 19%.
Other Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools at other degree levels:
View All Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 114 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.