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2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

[Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology](/majors/physical-sciences/atmospheric-sciences-meteorology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong atmospheric sciences & meteorology education at a price that pays off.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for atmospheric sciences & meteorology students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in Illinois

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

Northern Illinois University
Dekalb, IL

$13,060 In-State Tuition & Fees

$26,500 Avg Student Debt

$57,808 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, no school beat Northern Illinois University this year. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $52,308. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.

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 atmospheric sciences & meteorology. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Students borrow a median of $22,311 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign generally make around $41,026. That is a strong return on a $22,311 median debt. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 4 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.