U.S. median for this major: $61,598.
College Scorecard field of study; 18 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 54% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $25,250.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $28,851. College Scorecard.
Northern Illinois University Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Illinois colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Northern Illinois University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $10,126 | $44,453 | 3.3 years |
| $30–48k | $9,854 | $43,259 | 3.2 years |
| $48–75k | $12,797 | $56,179 | 4.2 years |
| $75–110k | $17,612 | $77,317 | 5.8 years |
| $110k+ | $21,834 | $95,851 | 7.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.4 years, the average time graduates took (33% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates 4 years after graduating ($49,198) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $13,401 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | $71,425 | $22,311 | $14,355 | 85% |
| 2 | Northern Illinois University | $49,198 | $26,500 | $13,391 | 49% |
1 more Illinois college offers Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology but has too few graduates to report earnings.
Careers for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +2.6% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at Northern Illinois University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Northern Illinois University
- Acceptance rate: 70% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 49% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $57,808
- Full cost breakdown · all 57 majors · overview
Related majors at Northern Illinois University
- Chemistry$65,611
- Physics—
- Geology / Earth Science—
Northern Illinois University Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology questions
How much do Northern Illinois University Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates earn?
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median $49,198 four years after graduating. The U.S. median for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates across 16 colleges is $61,598.
How much debt do Northern Illinois University Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates of Northern Illinois University is $26,500, about 54% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $25,250.
Where does Northern Illinois University rank for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology in Illinois?
Of 2 Illinois colleges reporting Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduate earnings, Northern Illinois University ranks 2nd. The highest is University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign at $71,425.
What jobs do Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $167,040 in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN area and $167,220 nationally. Others include atmospheric and space scientists.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Northern Illinois University Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northern-illinois-university/majors/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology (College Scorecard and BLS data).