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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy (Income $0-$30k)

22 Ranked Colleges
115 Degrees Awarded
$33,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Astronomy is the 498th most popular major in the country with 723 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 115 astronomy graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 22 colleges that offered a degree in astronomy. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great astronomy programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the astronomy program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Astronomy Schools

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 22 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read more about Astronomy at Northwestern University

#6 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Read full report on Astronomy at UW - Madison

#3

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #3 spot on the list. Cornell is located in Ithaca, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Cornell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042.

Read full report on Astronomy at Cornell

#8 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #4 spot on the list. U-M is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 4 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #8 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Columbia University in the City of New York. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Columbia University in the City of New York is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Astronomy Report

#6

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#9 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 9 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMCP, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885.

Full UMCP Astronomy Report

#11 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#8

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#5 in overall quality

University of Arizona did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #8. University of Arizona is a large school located in Tucson, Arizona that handed out 6 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #5 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Arizona

#13 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 11 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Astronomy Report

#12 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141.

Read full report on Astronomy at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#11

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 2 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #15 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at IU Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at IU Bloomington

#12

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#19 in overall quality

San Diego State University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. SDSU is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, SDSU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at SDSU

#13

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Boston University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Boston U also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #4. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666.

Full Boston U Astronomy Report

#14

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #14, University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Virginia is a large public school situated in Charlottesville, Virginia. It awarded 7 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #10. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394.

Full University of Virginia - Main Campus Astronomy Report

#15

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #15, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in College Station, Texas, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Texas A&M College Station not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743.

Read more about Astronomy at Texas A&M College Station

#16

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 3 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Astronomy at UC Santa Cruz

With a ranking of #17, University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is located in Las Vegas, Nevada and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UNLV has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at UNLV

#20 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus also took the #20 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275.

Full NMSU Main Campus Astronomy Report

#19

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#18 in overall quality

University of Hawaii at Manoa ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Hawaii at Manoa is located in Honolulu, Hawaii and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UH Manoa, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH Manoa are $34,550, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Hawaii at Manoa

#14 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, UT Austin has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UT Austin Astronomy Report

#21

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

With a ranking of #21, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. NAU is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, NAU has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489.

Full NAU Astronomy Report

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Troy, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students whose families make $0-$30k list, RPI has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are $58,325.

Read more about Astronomy at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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