Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at Ohio University-Zanesville Campus

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 puts this program in reasonable territory for a STEM field, though the context matters considerably. Based on national patterns for atmospheric sciences bachelor's programs, graduates typically earn around $41,000 in their first year—modest but workable against an estimated $24,250 in debt. The field generally rewards specialization and advanced credentials, so these bachelor's-level figures may represent an entry point rather than a career ceiling.

The challenge is uncertainty. With small graduating classes at this regional campus, we're working entirely from national estimates rather than actual outcomes for Zanesville students specifically. Ohio has seven schools offering atmospheric sciences programs, but none of the comparable ones report data either, making it difficult to gauge how this particular campus stacks up. The meteorology job market can be geographically concentrated around weather service offices, research institutions, and media markets—factors that might advantage or disadvantage graduates from a smaller Zanesville campus depending on their mobility and connections.

For families considering this program, the estimated debt load appears manageable if those national earnings patterns hold true here. However, verify whether graduates from this campus actually secure positions in atmospheric sciences or pivot to related fields. Ask about internship placements, employment outcomes, and whether most students continue to graduate programs where the real career differentiation happens in this field.