---

2026 Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

[General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology-general/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value general atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Best Value General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools

1

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

$13,060 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,500 Avg Student Debt

$57,808 Median Earnings (10yr)

Leading the list is Northern Illinois University, our #1 best value for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology in Illinois. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $52,308. Set against $26,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

$18,267 In-State Tuition & Fees

$22,311 Avg Student Debt

$81,054 Median Earnings (10yr)

A rank of #2 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the best values for general atmospheric sciences & meteorology. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $22,311 in student loans. General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $41,026 early in their careers. Set against $22,311 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.

View All General 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 · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.