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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy (With Aid)

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

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 Getting Aid” 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 Getting Aid” ranking looked at 22 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent astronomy programs, but they also 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. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. 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 Getting Aid

The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree astronomical sciences students with aid.

Top 22 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy (With Aid)

#6 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#13 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 11 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #13 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 Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294.

Full UW Seattle Astronomy Report

#3

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid. 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 did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Arizona

#11 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Champaign, Illinois, and it awarded 2 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #11 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at UIUC

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 22 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #5 spot on the list. Columbia is located in New York, New York and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 5 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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.

Read more about Astronomy at Columbia

#6

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#9 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UMCP Astronomy Report

#8 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at U-M

#8

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, San Diego State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #19 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 San Diego State University are $18,658.

Read full report on Astronomy at San Diego State University

#9

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Bloomington, Indiana 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.

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

Read full report on Astronomy at IU Bloomington

#10

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#10 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

University of Virginia did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia - Main Campus are $32,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Virginia

University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 1 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

UNLV not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #0 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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

#14 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. UT Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

UT Austin also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full The University of Texas at Austin Astronomy Report

#20 in overall quality

New Mexico State University - Main Campus ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 2 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

NMSU Main Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Astronomy Report

#14

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Northwestern University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Northwestern University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at Northwestern University

#15

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#18 in overall quality

University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Honolulu, Hawaii is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to 7 students in 2019-2020.

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 University of Hawaii at Manoa are $34,550, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at UH Manoa

#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 Getting Aid list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #17 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at University of California - Santa Cruz

#12 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #17. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 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. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#18

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
#16 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 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.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Astronomy Report

#19

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#3 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Cornell University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid list. Cornell University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Ithaca, New York. It awarded 13 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #3. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Read full report on Astronomy at Cornell

#20

Northern Arizona University

Flagstaff, Arizona

Northern Arizona University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #20. NAU is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 1 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NAU, the school also landed the #0 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at Northern Arizona University

#21

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#4 in overall quality

Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #21. Boston U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 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 Boston University are $57,666.

Read full report on Astronomy at Boston U

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #22. RPI is a medium-sized school located in Troy, New York that handed out 1 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

RPI also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Average graduate tuition and fees at RPI are $58,325, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on 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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