2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region

[Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong atmospheric sciences & meteorology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools.
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2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
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
University Of Utah tops our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools in the Rocky Mountains Region. Set in the city of Salt Lake City, University Of Utah is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,620, compared with $30,860 for out-of-state students. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $20,798 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $60,527. That is a strong return on a $20,798 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Colorado State University Fort Collins came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,373, compared with $35,061 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $51,693. That is a strong return on a $22,843 median debt. Colorado State University Fort Collins admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Set in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $20,373. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $55,861. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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 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.