Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Ohio University-Southern Campus

A debt load around $24,250 for a bachelor's in atmospheric sciences positions Ohio University-Southern Campus's program near the middle of what peer programs nationally report—estimated debt here sits just below the $25,500 national median. With first-year earnings from comparable meteorology programs hovering around $41,430, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 suggests graduates could manage repayment within a reasonable timeframe, though not without some financial discipline in those early career years.

What complicates the picture is the program's size. Neither earnings nor debt data come from this campus's actual graduates—both figures derive from national peer programs because too few students have completed the degree here for the Department of Education to report outcomes. That makes this less about evaluating a proven track record and more about betting that this small program will produce results consistent with established meteorology departments elsewhere. Seven Ohio schools offer atmospheric sciences degrees, but none of the smaller programs have reportable data either.

The investment looks defensible on paper if the program delivers career placement similar to its peers, but you're essentially relying on national benchmarks rather than this campus's demonstrated outcomes. If your student is drawn to meteorology and this location works logistically, the estimated numbers don't scream red flags—just understand you're making that decision with limited visibility into how this specific program's graduates actually fare.