Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology at University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Peer programs in atmospheric sciences nationally suggest first-year earnings around $41,000—a figure that makes the estimated $24,250 in debt at UMass Lowell look relatively manageable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59, graduates from similar programs typically earn enough to handle their loan payments without severe financial strain, though this isn't the kind of degree that produces immediate high salaries.

What's harder to assess here is how UMass Lowell specifically prepares students compared to the 80 other schools offering this major nationwide. The university's solid admissions profile and reasonable access (85% acceptance rate, 27% Pell recipients) suggest a competent program, but without actual graduate outcomes, you're relying on faith that UMass Lowell delivers results consistent with other atmospheric sciences programs. The national figures show remarkably tight clustering—the 75th percentile is barely $100 higher than the median—which means this field tends to produce consistent, moderate early earnings regardless of where you study.

For families evaluating this investment, the key question is whether your student is genuinely committed to meteorology or atmospheric science as a career path. The estimated debt burden won't be crushing if they follow through, but it's also not a field where switching directions later will leave them with particularly marketable skills or high earnings to show for their investment. If your child is serious about weather and climate work, the numbers from comparable programs suggest this is financially viable—just don't expect early career wealth.