# Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology

> A general program that focuses on the scientific study of the composition and behavior of the atmospheric envelopes surrounding the earth, the effect of earth's atmosphere on terrestrial weather, and related problems of environment and climate. Includes instruction in atmospheric chemistry and physics, atmospheric dynamics, climatology and climate change, weather simulation, weather forecasting, climate modeling and mathematical theory; and studies of specific phenomena such as clouds, weather systems, storms, and precipitation patterns.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology
- CIP code: 40.04 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 83 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 13 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 83 | $43,027 | $59,759 | $24,292 |
| Master's | 42 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 39 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach](https://www.collegesref.com/college/embry-riddle-aeronautical-university-daytona-beach-908) | Daytona Beach, FL | $76,421 | not reported |
| [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-illinois-at-urbana-champaign-main-campus-2927) | Champaign, IL | $71,425 | not reported |
| [Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/virginia-polytechnic-institute-and-state-university-3134) | Blacksburg, VA | $67,892 | $21,456 |
| [Florida State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/florida-state-university-main-campus-985) | Tallahassee, FL | $66,943 | not reported |
| [University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-oklahoma-norman-campus-main-campus-3007) | Norman, OK | $63,104 | $27,000 |
| [Valparaiso University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/valparaiso-university-3111) | Valparaiso, IN | $60,092 | $27,000 |
| [Saint Cloud State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/saint-cloud-state-university-2296) | Saint Cloud, MN | $57,108 | not reported |
| [University of Missouri-Columbia](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-missouri-columbia-main-campus-2965) | Columbia, MO | $55,790 | $17,500 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | College Station, TX | $54,593 | $19,500 |
| [Iowa State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/iowa-state-university-1305) | Ames, IA | $52,786 | $24,292 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/atmospheric-earth-marine-and-space-sciences-teachers-postsecondary): $103,170 median pay
- [Atmospheric and Space Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/atmospheric-and-space-scientists): $99,070 median pay
- [Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/life-physical-and-social-science-technicians-all-other): $62,280 median pay
- [Quality Control Analysts](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/quality-control-analysts): $62,280 median pay
- [Remote Sensing Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/remote-sensing-technicians): $62,280 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry): 1,132 colleges
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics): 772 colleges
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences): 444 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Astronomy and Astrophysics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics): 112 colleges
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences): 45 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/