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2023 Best Value Colleges for Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

11 Ranked Colleges
174 Degrees Awarded
$8,400 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2020-2021, 1,140 people earned their degree in atmospheric sciences and meteorology, making the major the 227th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, atmospheric sciences and meteorology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $35,965 and had an average of $23,086 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 174 atmospheric sciences and meteorology graduates with average earnings and debt of $33,400 and $24,250 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 11 colleges that offer a degree in atmospheric sciences and meteorology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent atmospheric sciences and meteorology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the atmospheric sciences and meteorology program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 11 Best Value Colleges for Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 23 ’s meteorology degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k list, U-M has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is $2,670 for great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at U-M

2

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #2 spot on the list. Madison, Wisconsin is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s meteorology degrees to 22 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UW - Madison has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $3,981 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison.

With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full UW - Madison Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Report

3

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 29 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

UIUC also took the #3 spot in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $4,858 for great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend UIUC.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Ohio State is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 21 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State is $7,068 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at Ohio State

5
IU Bloomington crest
Indiana University - Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana

Out of the 11 schools in the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified ’s meteorology students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for IU Bloomington is $5,752 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at IU Bloomington

6
Purdue crest
Purdue University - Main Campus
West Lafayette, Indiana

Purdue University - Main Campus ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Purdue is a public institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Purdue did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,995 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Purdue University - Main Campus.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at Purdue

7
Ball State crest
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana

Ball State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Muncie, Indiana, this large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified ’s meteorology students in 2020-2021.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $8,273 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at Ball State University

8
Valpo crest
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Valparaiso University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school has a small population, and it awarded 18 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Valpo also took the #7 spot in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $19,548 for great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Valpo.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at Valpo

9

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified ’s meteorology students in 2020-2021.

UWM not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee is $11,973 for great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

10

Western Illinois University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s meteorology degrees to 3 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our great lakes region meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k list, WIU has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend WIU is $12,265 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full WIU Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Report

11

Northern Illinois University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Dekalb, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s meteorology degrees to 8 students in 2020-2021.

NIU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for NIU is $10,395 for Great Lakes Region Meteorology students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full NIU Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology Report

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Notes and References

References

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