2027 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for atmospheric sciences & meteorology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States 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 Saint Cloud State University, our #1 best value for atmospheric sciences & meteorology in the The Plains States Region. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Students borrow a median of $25,076 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Set against $25,076 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 95%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Nebraska Lincoln one of the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Set in the city of Lincoln, University Of Nebraska Lincoln is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,434, with out-of-state students paying around $28,584. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $22,386 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $49,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Nebraska Lincoln admits about 88% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Iowa State University one of the best values for atmospheric sciences & meteorology. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Students borrow a median of $23,496 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of Iowa State University earn a median of $54,204 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,496 median debt. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $18,625. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $41,430. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Narrow Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools by State
More Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Rankings
View All Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Rankings >
Notes and References
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
