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Climate Science Degree in Racine, WI — Salary & ROI 2026

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

Starting Salary

$62K

COL-adjusted

Mid-Career

$90K

COL-adjusted

ROI Payback

2.9 yrs

in Racine

Cost of Living

85.8

index (100 = avg)

Climate Science in Racine, WI Overview

While Racine has a smaller college scene with 4 institutions, Climate Science students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $12,562/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 Racine is approximately $61,776.

Category

STEM

Local Colleges

4

Public Tuition

$10,600/yr

Private Tuition

$34,000/yr

Room & Board

$12,562/yr

Avg Fin. Aid

$8,051/yr

Unemployment

2.1%

Graduation Rate

72%

Climate Science Salary in Racine (COL-Adjusted)

Salaries adjusted for Racine's cost of living index of 85.8 (national average = 100).

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$61,776($-10,224 vs national)
Mid Career (5-9 yrs)
$90,090($-14,910 vs national)
Senior Level (15+ yrs)
$120,120($-19,880 vs national)

Note: National average Climate Science salary: $72,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $140,000 senior level.Racine adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.

Climate Science ROI Calculator for Racine

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

Public avg: $10,600 | Private avg: $34,000

Racine avg aid: $8,051/yr

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

Total Education Cost

$92,648

tuition + room & board - aid

Annual Earnings Premium

$31,746

vs HS diploma in Racine

ROI Payback Period

2.9 years

to break even

Lifetime Return in Racine

$-6,848

Lifetime earnings premium ($85,800) minus total education cost ($92,648)

Student Loan Payoff for Climate Science in Racine

Standard Plan (10 years)

Loan Amount$92,648
Monthly Payment$1,052
Total Interest$33,592
% of Monthly Income20%

Aggressive Plan (5 years)

Loan Amount$92,648
Monthly Payment$1,813
Total Interest$16,118
Interest Savings$17,474

Colleges in Racine for Climate Science

Racine State University

public

$11,121/yr

$44,484 total

Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)

Racine Community College

$5,143/yr

Top Employers for Climate Science in Racine

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

NOAANASAEPAClimate Analytics

Key Racine 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 Racine — 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 Racine.

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