2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for atmospheric sciences & meteorology students.
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2026 Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools
Leading the list is Saint Cloud State University, our #1 best value for atmospheric sciences & meteorology in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,245 in tuition and fees. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans. Early-career atmospheric sciences & meteorology graduates make about $51,625. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Iowa State University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. Located in the city of Ames, Iowa State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, compared with $28,881 for out-of-state students. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $23,495 in student loans. Soon after graduation, atmospheric sciences & meteorology degree recipients from Iowa State University generally make around $53,900. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value atmospheric sciences & meteorology schools. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, with out-of-state students paying around $15,570. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of North Dakota earn a median of $64,378 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. University Of North Dakota admits about 77% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in atmospheric sciences & meteorology will find it at University Of Missouri Columbia, which ranked #4. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Students borrow a median of $18,625 to complete the atmospheric sciences & meteorology program here. Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $41,430 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
