2023 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy
29
Ranked Colleges
80
Degrees Awarded
$35,000
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 765 people earned their degree in astronomy, making the major the 479th most popular in the United States.
At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 80 astronomy graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,260 and $0 respectively.
This year’s “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” ranking looked at 29 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in astronomy.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Astronomy Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major”.
Top 29 Most Focused Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Astronomy Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend New Mexico State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #2 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major. NMSU Main Campus is a fairly large public school situated in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It awarded 3 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Astronomy at New Mexico State University - Main Campus
Out of the 29 schools in the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Hawaii at Manoa landed the #3 spot on the list. University of Hawaii at Manoa is a fairly large public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 4 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy at University of Hawaii at Manoa
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Arizona. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read more about Astronomy at University of Arizona
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #5 for the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Cornell University Astronomy Report
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #6. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.0% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%.
Full University of Chicago Astronomy Report
University of Maryland - College Park ranked #7 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. University of Maryland - College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Maryland - College Park Astronomy Report
University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy at University of Virginia
Boston University landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s astronomical sciences students in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Boston U Astronomy Report
Columbia University in the City of New York came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 5 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy at Columbia
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to 5 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Astronomy at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #12 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. University of Washington - Seattle Campus is a large school located in Seattle, Washington that handed out 5 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%.
Read more about Astronomy at UW Seattle
University of Nevada - Las Vegas did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #13. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Nevada - Las Vegas Astronomy Report
Case Western Reserve University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Case Western is located in Cleveland, Ohio and, has a fairly large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Case Western Reserve University Astronomy Report
University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 4 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UW - Madison Astronomy Report
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy at U-M
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. UT Austin is a public institution located in Austin, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #18. Ohio State is located in Columbus, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy at Ohio State
With a ranking of #19, University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public institution located in Amherst, Massachusetts. The school has a large population, and it awarded 20 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy at UMass Amherst
Georgia State University landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Georgia State University is located in Atlanta, Georgia and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Astronomy at Georgia State University
Harvard University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s astronomical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy at Harvard
Brigham Young University - Provo did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #19. Brigham Young University - Provo is a private not-for-profit institution located in Provo, Utah. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Brigham Young University - Provo Astronomy Report
Northwestern University ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 8 degrees to qualified doctorate’s astronomical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy at Northwestern University
With a ranking of #19, Brown University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Located in Providence, Rhode Island, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 0 degrees to qualified doctorate’s astronomical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Brown University Astronomy Report
With a ranking of #19, Northern Arizona University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Northern Arizona University is a large public school situated in Flagstaff, Arizona. It awarded 4 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy at NAU
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 13 degrees to qualified doctorate’s astronomical sciences students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Astronomy Report
With a ranking of #19, University of Florida did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 28 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astronomy at UF
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. University of California - Los Angeles is a public institution located in Los Angeles, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 0 doctorate’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Los Angeles Astronomy Report
Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Doctorate Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 3 doctorate’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read full report on Astronomy at Texas A&M University - College Station
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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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