Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Jackson State University

Jackson State's atmospheric sciences program comes with an estimated $24,250 in debt—slightly below what peer meteorology programs typically see nationally. With first-year earnings based on similar bachelor's programs hovering around $41,000, graduates would face a debt burden of about seven months' salary. That's manageable by most standards, though these figures represent national patterns rather than Jackson State's specific track record.

The reality for this program is that we're working with limited information. As Mississippi's only bachelor's-level meteorology program, there's no in-state comparison point, and the small graduating class means the Department of Education suppresses the actual outcomes data. What we can say is that meteorology programs nationally tend to produce relatively consistent earnings—the gap between median and top-performing programs is razor-thin. The field offers clear career paths in weather forecasting, consulting, and government work, which may explain the stability.

For families evaluating this investment, the estimated debt-to-earnings ratio suggests financial viability if those national patterns hold true here. However, with 68% of students receiving Pell grants, many Jackson State families have limited margin for error. Before committing, verify the program's placement success with employers like the National Weather Service or broadcast stations, and confirm that faculty have active connections in the field. The numbers suggest this could work, but you're betting on peer program performance rather than proven outcomes from Jackson State itself.