Compare 20 Meteorology. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $49,647. Top programs: $71,425+.
With top graduates earning $71,425, Meteorology stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $21,000—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 20 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not overall school reputation.
Topping the list, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign's Meteorology program delivers $71,425 in median earnings—44% above the $49,647 field average. Penn State (ranked #2 at $69,083) and Virginia Tech (#3 at $67,892) show that accessible public universities consistently outperform expectations. School prestige doesn't predict which program wins.
For students borrowing on their own, Illinois leads on affordability too: graduates carry $19,500 in federal loans and face just a 5.5% payment burden—an 'Excellent' GPS rating meaning loan payments are easily manageable on post-grad income. Families get the best picture at Florida State University, where combined student and parent debt of $35,000 produces an 11.6% family burden, landing in the 'Good' tier. [Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →](https://collegeazimuth.com/blog/how-to-evaluate-programs)
Highest program earnings: $71,425
Strong outcomes ($69,083) with 91% acceptance rate
5.5% payment burden | Excellent — payment under 8% of discretionary
11.6% family burden | Good — payment 8-12% of discretionary
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $71,425 | 14 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $69,083 | 41 | $25,000 | Excellent | $38,368 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $67,892 | 23 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Challenging | |
| #4 | Florida State UniversityPublic | $66,943 | 23 | $18,000 | Excellent | $17,000 | Good |
| #5 | $63,104 | 53 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Challenging | |
| #6 | Valparaiso UniversityPrivate | $60,092 | 11 | $26,942 | Good | $28,500 | Challenging |
| #7 | $59,427 | 13 | $20,880 | Excellent | $19,416 | Manageable | |
| #8 | $57,108 | 5 | $21,058 | Good | $11,598 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $55,790 | 29 | $20,500 | Good | $32,529 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $54,593 | 29 | $17,804 | Excellent | $32,258 | Challenging | |
| #11 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $52,786 | 18 | $22,869 | Good | $25,950 | Challenging |
| #12 | $49,198 | 7 | $22,162 | Good | $19,508 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $37,748 | 18 | — | — | — | — | |
| #14 | Ball State UniversityPublic | $36,920 | 6 | — | — | — | — |
| #15 | $36,790 | 9 | — | — | — | — | |
| #16 | $33,138 | 26 | — | — | — | — | |
| #17 | $32,925 | 13 | — | — | — | — | |
| #18 | $30,366 | 8 | — | — | — | — | |
| #19 | $30,126 | 8 | — | — | — | — | |
| #20 | $27,494 | 14 | — | — | — | — |
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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
