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Climate Science Degree in Medford, OR — Salary & ROI 2026

Climate Science degree analysis for Medford, OR. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.

Starting Salary

$80K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$117K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

2.5 yrs

in Medford

Cost of Living

111

index (100 = avg)

Climate Science in Medford, OR Overview

While Medford has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Climate Science students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $14,881/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Climate Science has seen growing enrollment nationally, reflecting rising employer demand for Climate Modeling and Data Analysis skills. The adjusted starting salary in Medford is approximately $79,920.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

4

Public Tuition

$10,326/yr

Private Tuition

$41,865/yr

Room & Board

$14,881/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$14,464/yr

Unemployment

3.6%

Graduation Rate

67%

Climate Science Salary in Medford (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Medford's cost of living index of 111 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$79,920(+$7,920 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$116,550(+$11,550 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$155,400(+$15,400 vs national)

Note: National average Climate Science salary: $72,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Medford adjustment factor: 1.11x based on the local cost of living index.

Climate Science ROI Calculator for Medford

Estimate your return on investment for a Climate Science degree using local Medford tuition and cost of living data.

Public avg: $10,326 | Private avg: $41,865

Medford avg aid: $14,464/yr

Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%

Total Education Cost

$100,828

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$41,070

vs HS diploma in Medford

ROI Payback Period

2.5 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Medford

$10,172

Lifetime earnings premium ($111,000) minus total education cost ($100,828)

Student Loan Payoff for Climate Science in Medford

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$100,828
Monthly Payment$1,145
Total Interest$36,558
% of Monthly Income17%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$100,828
Monthly Payment$1,973
Total Interest$17,541
Interest Savings$19,017

Colleges in Medford for Climate Science

Southern Oregon University

public

$10,326/yr

$41,304 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Rogue Community College

$4,536/yr

Top Employers for Climate Science in Medford

Medford offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Climate Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:

NOAANASAEPAClimate Analytics

Key Medford Hiring Sectors for STEM

Tech companies

Research labs

Government agencies

Startups

Consulting firms

Common Climate Science Job Titles

Climate ScientistEnvironmental AnalystResearch Scientist

Climate Science Degree in Medford — FAQ

Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.

Explore More

Compare Climate Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Medford.

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