2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Southeast Region
[Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astronomy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 6 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for astronomy students.
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2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Southeast Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Florida the best value for a degree in astronomy in the Southeast Region. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. Students from in state pay about $6,381 in tuition and fees, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. Astronomy graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Astronomy graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $17,669 median debt. The acceptance rate is 24%.
University Of Georgia came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy schools. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $31,688. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $21,792. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $53,546. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $18,627. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. That is a strong return on a $18,627 median debt. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
