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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy

20 Ranked Colleges
115 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master's

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s” ranking - to help you make that decision.

In 2019-2020, 723 people earned their degree in astronomy, making the major the 498th most popular in the United States.

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

For this year’s “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 20 colleges that offer 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.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the astronomy program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Astronomy Schools

The astronomical sciences school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s”.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s.

Top 20 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy

#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 list. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 3 masters’s astronomical sciences 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

#16 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #2 spot on the 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 also took the #16 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at Texas A&M University - College Station

#14 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #3 spot on the list. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UT Austin also took the #14 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. 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

#4

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#3 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Cornell University landed the #4 spot on the list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and 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.

Full Cornell University Astronomy Report

#20 in overall quality

Out of the 20 schools in the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s 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 NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at New Mexico State University - Main Campus

#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 ranking. College Park, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomical sciences degrees to 9 students in 2019-2020.

UMCP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at UMCP

#7

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#10 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Virginia - Main Campus is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 7 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 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 Virginia are $32,394.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Virginia

#11 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 2 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

UIUC also made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #11. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read full report on Astronomy at UIUC

#9

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#5 in overall quality

University of Arizona ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list. 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 made our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Arizona

#10

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#19 in overall quality

San Diego State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #10. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at SDSU, the school also landed the #19 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at San Diego State University

#13 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy at UW Seattle

#12

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#15 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #15 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 IU Bloomington are $33,338.

Read more about Astronomy at IU Bloomington

#13

Pennsylvania State University - University Park

University Park, Pennsylvania
#7 in overall quality

With a ranking of #13, Pennsylvania State University - University Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list.

Penn State University Park not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 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 Penn State University Park are $38,728.

Read more about Astronomy at Penn State University Park

#14

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students list, UC Santa Cruz has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy at UC Santa Cruz

#12 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomical sciences students list, Ohio State has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy at Ohio State

#16

University of Hawaii at Manoa

Honolulu, Hawaii
#18 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this fairly large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences 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. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Hawaii at Manoa are $34,550.

Full UH Manoa Astronomy Report

#1 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list. 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 also took the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia are $51,194, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at Columbia University in the City of New York

#18

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#8 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #18. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school awarded 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomical sciences students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #8 spot in our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy at U-M

#19

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, Northwestern University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomical Sciences Schools for a Master’s list. Northwestern University is a large school located in Evanston, Illinois that handed out 3 masters’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Northwestern Astronomy Report

#20

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 ranking, coming in at #20. 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 not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston University are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boston University Astronomy Report

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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