2026 Best Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region

Meteorology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their meteorology programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for meteorology students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region

Best Schools for Meteorology in the The Plains States Region

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall meteorology education in the The Plains States Region.

Top Schools in Meteorology

1

Iowa State University
Ames, IA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

27 Meteorology Degrees Awarded

$53,900 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked Iowa State University the best school in the country for a degree in meteorology. This very large public university is located in the city of Ames. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 27 meteorology students who graduated with this degree at Iowa State University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the meteorology program make about $53,900 in their early career. Iowa State University graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans. More information about a degree in meteorology from Iowa State University

2

Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, MN

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

13 Meteorology Degrees Awarded

$51,625 Median Starting Salary

Saint Cloud State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best meteorology schools. This large public university is located in the city of Saint Cloud. Saint Cloud State University graduates 39% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 meteorology students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Meteorology graduates of Saint Cloud State University earn a median of $51,625 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,076. See the full meteorology program report for Saint Cloud State University

Notes and References

This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2 schools evaluated.

• 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.