by our College Data Analytics Team
[Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astronomy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astronomy education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for astronomy students.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy, balancing cost against outcomes.
For return on investment in astronomy, no school beat Harvard University this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $16,616. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,772, with out-of-state students paying around $40,449. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $25,195. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $53,666. Set against $25,195 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Amherst admits about 60% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Boston University one of the best values for astronomy. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $25,232. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $63,598. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, 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.
More about our data sources and methodologies.