Data & Insights — Which colleges pay off? November 7, 2026
Midwest winters are far colder than the West’s In January the middle college in the Midwest averages 25°F; in the West, 48°F
axis from 23°F, not zero 40°F 60°F 80°F Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec West West, Jan: 48°F West, Feb: 52°F West, Mar: 55°F West, Apr: 59°F West, May: 63°F West, Jun: 68°F West, Jul: 73°F West, Aug: 74°F West, Sep: 69°F West, Oct: 64°F West, Nov: 55°F West, Dec: 48°F West 48°F South South, Jan: 43°F South, Feb: 46°F South, Mar: 54°F South, Apr: 62°F South, May: 70°F South, Jun: 78°F South, Jul: 81°F South, Aug: 80°F South, Sep: 74°F South, Oct: 63°F South, Nov: 52°F South, Dec: 45°F South 45°F Northeast Northeast, Jan: 29°F Northeast, Feb: 31°F Northeast, Mar: 38°F Northeast, Apr: 49°F Northeast, May: 60°F Northeast, Jun: 69°F Northeast, Jul: 74°F Northeast, Aug: 73°F Northeast, Sep: 65°F Northeast, Oct: 54°F Northeast, Nov: 43°F Northeast, Dec: 34°F Northeast 34°F Midwest Midwest, Jan: 25°F Midwest, Feb: 28°F Midwest, Mar: 38°F Midwest, Apr: 49°F Midwest, May: 61°F Midwest, Jun: 70°F Midwest, Jul: 74°F Midwest, Aug: 72°F Midwest, Sep: 65°F Midwest, Oct: 53°F Midwest, Nov: 40°F Midwest, Dec: 30°F Midwest 30°F
Source · NOAA US Climate Normals 1991–2020About these figures NOAA US Climate Normals 1991–2020, the station nearest each college. Northeast 433, Midwest 484, South 760, West 448 colleges. The median college each month, not an average of stations.
Northeast: 29°F in Jan, 34°F in Dec
Midwest: 25°F in Jan, 30°F in Dec
South: 43°F in Jan, 45°F in Dec
West: 48°F in Jan, 48°F in Dec
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