Compare 20 Meteorology. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $43,819. Top programs: $65,723+.
With top graduates earning $65,723, Meteorology stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $22K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign leads with graduates earning $65,723, while the field average sits at $43,419. Northern Illinois University follows at $60,731, demonstrating how regional publics can deliver exceptional outcomes. Texas A&M rounds out the top three at $53,791.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Illinois graduates borrow $19,500 and face just a 6.2% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. For families considering parent loans, Northern Illinois offers the best total value with a 16.0% family burden.
Highest program earnings: $65,723
Strong outcomes ($60,731) with 70% acceptance
6.2% payment burden | Excellent
16.0% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $65,723 | 19 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Challenging | |
| #2 | $60,731 | 13 | $22,162 | Excellent | $19,508 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $53,791 | 27 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $53,064 | 20 | $18,000 | Good | $17,000 | Manageable |
| #5 | $52,541 | 51 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #6 | $51,532 | 32 | $20,654 | Good | $31,890 | High | |
| #7 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | $50,175 | 10 | $26,942 | Manageable | $28,500 | High |
| #8 | $49,466 | 28 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | High | |
| #9 | $48,001 | 24 | $21,500 | Good | $35,325 | High | |
| #10 | Vermont State UniversityPublic | $46,853 | 12 | $15,000 | Good | $14,735 | Challenging |
| #11 | $46,685 | 24 | $23,507 | Manageable | $29,193 | High | |
| #12 | $37,748 | 20 | $14,615 | Manageable | $24,883 | High | |
| #13 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $36,920 | 14 | $23,250 | Challenging | $20,800 | High |
| #14 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $36,848 | 10 | $22,869 | Challenging | $25,950 | High |
| #15 | $36,790 | 18 | $20,484 | Challenging | $28,364 | High | |
| #16 | $32,925 | 13 | $27,000 | High | $23,103 | High | |
| #17 | $30,366 | 5 | $27,000 | High | $29,276 | High | |
| #18 | $30,126 | 18 | $14,000 | High | $26,176 | High | |
| #19 | $28,598 | 17 | $20,880 | High | $19,416 | High | |
| #20 | $27,494 | 12 | $19,976 | High | $25,868 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
