2027 Best Value Astronomy Master’s Degree Schools
[Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astronomy/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astronomy education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value astronomy schools.
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2027 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy Schools
For return on investment in astronomy, no school beat University Of Arizona this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $25,406. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $25,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $16,616. Astronomy graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value astronomy schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. In-state tuition and fees average $15,214, with out-of-state students paying around $42,970. Students borrow a median of $22,324 to complete the astronomy program here. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $45,066. That is a strong return on a $22,324 median debt. University Of Colorado Boulder admits about 78% of applicants.
Other Astronomy Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Astronomy rankings across degree levels:
View All Astronomy Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
