by our College Data Analytics TeamMeteorology was the 715th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 283 degrees in this year alone. This represents a 23.0% increase in meteorological science degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 218.
This year's Best Meteorology Schools ranking compares 10 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of meteorological science programs later in this article.
Talking to others to convey information effectively is a required skill for meteorological science majors. Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. In addition to these basic meteorology program qualifications, to serve in some meteorological science careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
Meteorological Science degree levels vary. Meteorology programs offered by schools range from a to a , which is the highest meteorological science degree you can get. Different meteorology degrees vary in how long they take.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to meteorological science, with approximately 31.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for meteorological science workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 33.4% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 25.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 24.8% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 9.4% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 4.7% |
63.3% of meteorological science workers have at least a master's. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in meteorology have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the meteorological science career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your meteorological science degree? Meteorology careers are expected to grow 10.2% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to meteorology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | 62,300 | 9.9% |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | 14,400 | 9.9% |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | 11,700 | 12.5% |
As you might expect, salaries for meteorological science graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for meteorology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers meteorological science grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers | $139,680 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors | $101,890 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $95,580 |
With over 50 different meteorological science degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased meteorological science school rankings to help you with this.
Meteorology is one of 4 different types of Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 804 |
| Other Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 42 |
| Atmospheric Chemistry & Climatology | 9 |
| Atmospheric Physics & Dynamics | 2 |
