Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

With fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, treat these numbers as indicative rather than definitive. That said, the trajectory here looks promising: atmospheric sciences grads start around $41,000—essentially matching both national and state medians—but jump to nearly $66,000 by year four. That 60% earnings growth suggests the degree opens doors to professional meteorology roles that take a few years to access, which aligns with how the field actually works (many positions require additional certification or experience beyond the bachelor's degree).

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,311, creating a manageable 0.54 ratio to first-year earnings. While this ranks in the 60th percentile among Illinois atmospheric sciences programs (only three schools offer it statewide), you're paying less than the state median debt. The real question is whether your child can weather that initial year or two of entry-level earnings while building toward better-paying positions.

For a student genuinely committed to meteorology or atmospheric research, UIUC's strong science reputation paired with this growth trajectory makes sense—just recognize the small sample means individual outcomes could vary more than usual. If they're on the fence about the field itself, they should explore whether forecasting or climate science genuinely excites them, since that modest starting salary requires patience and professional persistence to overcome.