by our College Data Analytics TeamAstronomy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their astronomy programs.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 20 schools to find the best for astronomy students.
What’s on this page:
Where you study astronomy matters for your future. That is why we built our Best Astronomy Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Astronomy Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the astronomy degrees they offer, see the list below.
No school ranked higher than Yale University this year for astronomy. Set in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Yale University awarded about 15 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Yale University generally make around $74,578. Typical student debt for the program is $14,357. Read more about the astronomy program at Yale University
Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at University Of Maryland College Park, which ranked #2. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. About 30 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,836. More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at University Of Chicago, which ranked #3. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Chicago generally make around $81,002. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Get the full astronomy details for University Of Chicago
Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor, which ranked #4. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor awarded about 34 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $66,254 in their early career. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans. Get the full astronomy details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
A rank of #5 makes University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign one of the top schools for astronomy. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 30 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $57,461 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete this degree. Get the full astronomy details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for astronomy this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. About 48 astronomy degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $58,088 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. See the full astronomy program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
San Diego State University earned the #7 position for astronomy this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 23 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. More information about a degree in astronomy from San Diego State University
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #8 among the best astronomy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Washington Seattle Campus awarded about 48 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Washington Seattle Campus generally make around $65,681. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates carry a median of $16,481 in student loans. See the full astronomy program report for University Of Washington Seattle Campus
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best astronomy schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $69,126 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,627. Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Colorado Boulder placed #10 among the best astronomy schools. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The six-year graduation rate is 74%. About 58 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $45,066 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,324. Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of Arizona ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best astronomy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. About 51 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $50,834 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,406 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Arizona
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #12 position for astronomy this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 19 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $35,171 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. See the full astronomy program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Florida earned the #13 position for astronomy this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 47 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Florida in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from University Of Florida earn around $58,388 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669. Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Florida
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #14 for astronomy this year. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 13 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from Columbia University In The City Of New York earn around $86,770 in the first couple years of their career. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Get the full astronomy details for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #15 for astronomy this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 18 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,666. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,195 in student loans. Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Villanova University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best astronomy schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at Villanova University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $72,601 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in astronomy from Villanova University
The University Of Texas At Austin placed #17 among the best astronomy schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 52 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $29,404 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250. Get the full astronomy details for The University Of Texas At Austin
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #18 position for astronomy this year. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 32 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earn around $39,728 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,678. See the full astronomy program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston University came in at #19 for astronomy this year. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 29 astronomy degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Astronomy graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. Read more about the astronomy program at Boston University
New Mexico State University Main Campus landed the #20 spot for astronomy this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 astronomy degrees were awarded at New Mexico State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from New Mexico State University Main Campus earn around $41,860 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,026. More information about a degree in astronomy from New Mexico State University Main Campus
Explore the best astronomy schools by region.
Explore other rankings in majors related to Astronomy. Browse the parent area of study.
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.