List of All U.S. Colleges with a Meteorology Major
You might think of meteorologists simply as the people who deliver the weather on TV, but in reality the field has a lot more to offer. In fact, only about 10% of meteorologists are on TV. Meteorology is the study of both short-term weather predictions and long-term climate processes. As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, the need for skilled and educated meteorologists will only increase too.
Many colleges offer a meteorology major. If you’re ready to learn about new technology, collect and interpret weather and climate data, and apply your math and science skills to a constantly changing field, meteorology may be a good choice for you. To learn more about applying to meteorology programs and which colleges in the U.S. offer a meteorology degree, keep reading.
Why Major in Meteorology?
Like most STEM fields, meteorology is projected to have strong job growth and security over the next decade, with solid earning potential to match. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the field will grow 12% by the year 2026, and notes that the median pay for a meteorologist in 2018 was $94,000.
Generally, a student graduating with a degree in meteorology can expect to go straight to work. If you want to go into research, you’ll need to pursue a masters or PhD, but there is no shortage of jobs for meteorologists with a bachelor’s degree. In addition to becoming a weathercaster on TV, students with a degree in meteorology may also work for private companies in businesses like aviation, insurance, energy, or agriculture. Meteorologists can also become federal employees working for the National Weather Service, or similar agencies.
If you’re interested in studying climate processes, how and why storms or other weather events occur, how to predict weather patterns, or how weather might influence specific areas or projects, meteorology is a good choice for you.
How to Get Into a Meteorology Program
Meteorology is a field of applied science and math, meaning that to be successful in it you’ll need to have knowledge in math and science, and you’ll need to know how to apply this knowledge to new and changing situations. STEM fields can be competitive, so thinking ahead and creating a strong applicant profile is a smart move. Here are some tips for getting started:
Take Advanced STEM Classes. You’ll want to show that your academics are up to par for the STEM fields, and taking advanced classes is a simple way of doing this. Take AP Chemistry, AP Physics, and advanced classes in earth science and math. Some of your AP classes may even allow you to place out of required entry level prerequisites when you start your degree.
Find a Weather-Related Extracurricular. Meteorology is a niche field so it can be easy to set yourself apart by pursuing it early in your high school career. Find an extracurricular that is related to weather of climate. This could be an independent science project that you progress to higher levels each year, a weather club, your own weather blog, or something else that you start from scratch. Showing that you have a long-term interest in this field can really set you apart from other applicants.
Consider Getting Help From Someone Who’s Done It Before. Planning the track to college as a ninth or tenth grader is daunting and sometimes confusing. Three or four years is a long time, and there’s a lot that will change between now and then. Luckily, you don’t have to go into the process alone. CollegeVine’s Early Advising Program pairs high school ninth and tenth graders with successful students from top-30 schools to provide current high schoolers with advice on everything from selecting classes and extracurriculars to setting and achieving long-term goals.
List of All U.S. Schools With a Meteorology Major
California University of Pennsylvania | Cal U
College of Charleston
Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University
Florida Institute of Technology | Florida Tech
Florida State University | FSU
Gulf Coast State College | GCSC
Jackson State University | JSU
Millersville University of Pennsylvania | MU
Nevada State College | NSC
New Jersey Institute of Technology | NJIT
New York University | NYU
Nova Southeastern University | NSU
Oberlin College
Pennsylvania State University | PSU
Plymouth State University | PSU
Purdue University
Rutgers University–New Brunswick | Rutgers
Saint Louis University | SLU
San Jose State University | SJSU
Seminole State College of Florida
State University of New York at Oneonta | SUNY Oneonta
State University of New York at Oswego | SUNY Oswego
The College at Brockport, State University of New York | SUNY Brockport
The State University of New York at Albany | SUNY Albany
United States Air Force Academy | Air Force
University of Delaware
University of Kansas
University of Michigan
University of Nebraska–Lincoln | UNL
University of North Carolina at Charlotte | UNC Charlotte
University of Oklahoma
University of Tennessee at Martin | UTM
University of the Incarnate Word | UIW
Valparaiso University | Valpo
Virginia Tech
Western Illinois University | WIU
Meteorology is a strong career choice with many options and lots of potential for growth. Graduates with a meteorology degree can find employment in many different sectors from federal jobs to private companies and even the entertainment industry. That being said, getting into the meteorology program of your dreams may not be easy, so it’s essential to make sure that you apply to schools that are a good fit for you.
Curious about your chances of acceptance to your dream school? Our free chancing engine takes into account your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and other data to predict your odds of acceptance at over 500 colleges across the U.S. We’ll also let you know how you stack up against other applicants and how you can improve your profile. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to get started!
