2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Southwest Region
[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.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 19 schools to find the best return on investment for astronomy students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the astronomy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Astronomy Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Arizona the best value for a degree in astronomy in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $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. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $25,250. Early-career astronomy graduates make about $29,404. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. Roughly 27% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 19 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.
