Admissions & Tuition
Title
Certificate Program Admissions
Please complete the certificate application form to begin the certificate application process.
Once your application form for the certificate is reviewed by the Department of Climate, Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences, you will be contacted by a program adviser for information on next steps.
You may also directly contact the Online Program Faculty Coordinator in Atmospheric Sciences, Dr. Alicia Klees, aklees@illinois.edu, for additional information regarding the certificate program or click here to request more information.
Certificate Application Deadlines
- Spring 2026 – January 10, 2026
- Summer 2026 – June 1, 2026
- Fall 2026 – August 15, 2026
Master’s Program Admissions
The Weather & Climate Risk & Data Analytics Program is designed for people looking to advance their expertise or pursue career advancement in the field of atmospheric sciences and allied fields.
M.S. Application Deadlines
- Spring 2026 – December 1, 2025
- Summer 2026 – May 1, 2026
- Fall 2026 – August 1, 2026
Priority review is given to applications completed before these deadlines, but we accept applications until one week before the start of the semester. Applications submitted after the semester begins are automatically designated to the next admission cycle at top priority for admission consideration.
Program Requirements
Students who wish to apply must meet the following requirements:
- Bachelor's degree, ideally in atmospheric sciences, meteorology, oceanography, or in a related field such as physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering. The degree must be from an accredited college in the United States or an approved institution of higher learning abroad
- GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0) or higher for the last 60 semester hours in a Bachelor's program.
- Students who do not meet the degree criterion and/or GPA criterion may still be eligible for consideration. Such students are encouraged to contact Dr. Alicia Klees, Teaching Assistant Professor and program advisor, aklees@illinois.edu, to determine their possible eligibility.
What do I need to apply?
Current Resume/CV
Even if you don’t have a career in an atmospheric sciences or related field, include any volunteer work or related roles that you have held that would help us understand you as a person and what makes you a good fit for the program.
Official Transcripts
Obtain and upload transcripts from every post-secondary institution you have attended. Applicants must have been awarded a comparable bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (A=4.0), or comparable GPA for an international applicant, for the last two years of the undergraduate program is the minimum requirement for admission. Please speak with a program adviser if your GPA is below 3.0 to discuss additional admissions options.
Letters of Recommendation
Submission of three letters are required for admission. Recommendation letters can come from either academic or professional sources; recommendations from personal sources (e.g., neighbors, friends, family) will not be considered.
Statement of Academic Purpose
We want to get to know you better. Think about these elements to include in your personal/professional statement:
- An explanation of your professional background and the qualifications you bring to the Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics M.S. program (if your direct experience with the atmospheric sciences field is not professional in nature, please explain why you are pursuing this degree).
- A description of your goals for your degree (why are you applying to Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics? What are your goals by completing a M.S.?).
- A brief summary of any relevant personal information or experiences that contribute to your desire to pursue the M.S. in Weather and Climate Risk and Data Analytics (e.g., why are you passionate about studying in the atmospheric sciences and the focus of this program?).
- Other personal/professional items that you wish to share that will support your application materials.
TOEFL Scores
Students whose native language is not English must present their official scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination with the required minimum scores: 611 on the paper-based test, 254 on the computer-based test, 103 on the Internet-based test (iBT).
"This is a truly unique program, where students will engage with world-renowned faculty as well as practitioners in the private and public sector. Students have an opportunity to learn from a wide variety of professionals, apply skills in real-world situations, as well as customize their educational path to meet their professional and personal goals, which sets this program apart from others. We look forward to working with each and every student throughout their time in the program!"
— Heather Miller
SESE Online Programs Coordinator
How much does the certificate or online master of science program cost?
- The tuition rate for the 2025-2026 academic year is $775 (USD) per credit hour for both the certificate and master’s program courses.
- The rate for the online certificate or M.S. program is $798 per credit hour for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- The rate is the same for in-state, out-of-state and international students.
Note that students enrolled in fully online programs are not eligible for the university provided student health insurance program. Beginning in Fall 2026, all students enrolled in these experiences will be assessed a $4 per billing hour Online Service Fee for services by the Office of the Dean of Students, the library, technology services, and counseling services. No other campus-based fees are charged.
You can plan on approximately $24,800 for the 32 credit-hour master’s program and $9300 for the 12 credit-hour certificate program. Tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state/international students.
Tuition Waivers & Financial Aid
The Weather & Climate Risk & Data Analytics M.S. is a self-supporting program and does not accept the following tuition and fee waivers*:
- Cooperating teacher waivers
- Non-academic waivers (including University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign employees and employees of other state institutions)
- Academic waivers from University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign, Chicago, Springfield) employees
- Related agency waivers
- Field supervisor waivers
- Waivers granted through fellowships/assistantships as governed by the Graduate College at the University of Illinois
- Retiree waivers
Students in these programs are not eligible to hold a waiver generating graduate appointment (Assistantship or Fellowship). Current employees may be admitted to these programs, but their employee waiver is not eligible for use towards a program with this designation.
To apply for the master’s degree program, complete the online application through the Graduate College at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The domestic application fee is currently $70 and $90 for international applications.
Statutory waivers and veterans benefits
This program welcomes those with statutory waivers or veterans affairs benefits to apply for the program! Please review the information about using veterans benefits.
*The waiver policy is subject to moderate changes in accordance with the actions of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees.
Is there financial aid?
Financial aid (student loans) is available for students accepted into the program and enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of coursework in the fall and spring, or 3 credit hours during the summer.
