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2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in California

[Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.

College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in California

2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in California

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

Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools

1

University Of California San Diego
La Jolla, CA

$15,788 In-State Tuition & Fees

$17,101 Avg Student Debt

$84,943 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of California San Diego tops our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools in California. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,788 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,676. Typical student debt for atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates is $17,101. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $60,797 early in their careers. Set against $17,101 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 27%.

2

University Of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA

$14,233 In-State Tuition & Fees

$16,097 Avg Student Debt

$82,511 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of California Los Angeles is a great value for students pursuing a degree in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $63,833. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

View All Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published 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 · 6 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.