Bachelor's · Champaign, Illinois
Is Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign worth it?
Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.
The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans
Pays back fast: graduates typically recover the cost in about 2.2 years.
- Earnings 1 year after graduating
- Not enough graduates to report
- Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Earnings 4 years after graduating
- $76,719
- Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Typical federal debt at graduation
- Not enough borrowers to report
- NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
- Net cost to graduate, all families
- $55k (likely $55k – $65k)
- AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
- Earnings bump, year 4
- $39k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in IL
- 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Payback
- 2.2 years (likely 1.4–3.6)
- Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
- 10-year net return
- $164k (likely −$3k – $345k)
- Today's dollars
- 20-year net return
- $614k (likely $265k – $1.01M)
- Today's dollars
- Odds of finishing (school-wide)
- 86%
- Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Change income, residency or loans Compare Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at other schools
🌱 Getting ready in high school
Students heading toward animals, plants & the planet majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.
AP classes
- AP Biology
- AP Environmental Science
- AP Chemistry
- AP Statistics
IB Higher Level
- Biology HL
- Environmental Systems and Societies
Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.
Other majors at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Computer Science (Bachelor's)$181,981
- Computer Science (Master's)$179,395
- Physics (Doctoral)$163,024
- Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)$159,855
- Mathematics and Computer Science (Bachelor's)$155,503
- Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$151,907
- Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$146,946
- Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Master's)$142,725
- Veterinary Medicine (Doctoral)$133,973
- Chemistry (Doctoral)$131,278
- Law (Doctoral)$130,428
- Mechanical Engineering (Master's)$127,773
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at other schools in Illinois
- Northern Illinois University$49,198