Best institutions to study Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology
Any instructional program in atmospheric sciences and meteorology not listed above.
8 U.S. institutions graduated 44 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0499, a specialization of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (CIP 40.04), and leads most directly to the Atmospheric and Space Scientists occupation (BLS SOC 19-2021).
About Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology programs
Any instructional program in atmospheric sciences and meteorology not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology program focuses on the study of atmospheric phenomena, weather, and climate. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the Earth's atmosphere and its impact on the environment, providing a foundation for careers in meteorology and related fields. Students will engage with various scientific principles and methodologies to analyze weather patterns and climate data.
Core coursework in this program emphasizes mathematics, physics, and geography, equipping students with essential skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and data analysis. Students will learn to develop and utilize mathematical and computer models for weather forecasting and interpret environmental data to predict weather conditions.
Credentials awarded
What Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree33 graduates / yr · 5 institutions75%
- Master's degree8 graduates / yr · 2 institutions18%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship2 graduates / yr · 1 institution4.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution2.3%
Graduates over time
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 23 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2017 | 31 |
| 2018 | 23 |
| 2019 | 30 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2022 | 43 |
| 2023 | 47 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 44 |
Top 8 institutions for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 10 | 86% | — | — |
| 2 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicBachelor's | 9 | 70% | — | — |
| 3 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor's | 8 | 93% | — | — |
| 4 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 84% | — | — |
| 5 | University at Albany Albany, NYPublicMaster's | 5 | 61% | — | — |
| 6 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus Atlanta, GAPublicBachelor's | 3 | 94% | — | — |
| 7 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor's | 3 | 80% | — | — |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus University Park, PAPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 34% | — | $42,595 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology field (CIP 40.04) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 8 states
Where Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates come from. Each state links to all Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 10 | University of California - San Diego10 / yr |
| Oregon | 1 | 9 | Oregon State University9 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 8 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor8 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 5 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick5 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 5 | University at Albany5 / yr |
| Georgia | 1 | 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology - Main Campus3 / yr |
| Indiana | 1 | 3 | Indiana University - Bloomington3 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | 1 | Pennsylvania State University - World Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2021, Atmospheric and Space Scientists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology program can pursue careers as Atmospheric and Space Scientists, with additional opportunities in natural sciences management and education. The job outlook shows little to no change, with approximately 700 annual openings and a median wage of $97,450, typically requiring a Bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0499
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Atmospheric and Space Scientistsprimary SOC 19-2021 | $99,070 | +0.7% Little or no change | ~700 | Bachelor's degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1051 | $103,170 | +2.6% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Develop or use mathematical or computer models for weather forecasting.
- Interpret data, reports, maps, photographs, or charts to predict long- or short-range weather conditions, using computer models and knowledge of climate theory, physics, and mathematics.
- Conduct meteorological research into the processes or determinants of atmospheric phenomena, weather, or climate.
- Formulate predictions by interpreting environmental data, such as meteorological, atmospheric, oceanic, paleoclimate, climate, or related information.
- Broadcast weather conditions, forecasts, or severe weather warnings to the public via television, radio, or the Internet or provide this information to the news media.
- Prepare forecasts or briefings to meet the needs of industry, business, government, or other groups.
Tools and technology used
Other Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology specializations
The 4 other 6-digit CIP codes under Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (CIP 40.04).
- Atmospheric Sciences and MeteorologyCIP 40.0401953 graduates / yr70 institutions
- MeteorologyCIP 40.0404276 graduates / yr27 institutions
- Atmospheric Chemistry and ClimatologyCIP 40.0402limited data7 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics40.0403
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree, as well as a postbaccalaureate certificate.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, data analysis, and effective communication.
What jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as an Atmospheric Scientist, Natural Sciences Manager, or a teacher in related fields.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is stable, with little change expected and about 700 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology?+
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology is CIP 40.0499 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (CIP 40.04). NCES defines it as: Any instructional program in atmospheric sciences and meteorology not listed above.
How many institutions offer Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology programs?+
8 U.S. institutions reported Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 8 states, awarding 44 credentials in the year. That is 3.4% of all Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates.
How much do Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Atmospheric and Space Scientists occupation, which Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology most directly leads to, pays a median of $99,070 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology field report median earnings of $42,595 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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