2027 Best Astronomy Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Astronomy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their astronomy programs.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best astronomy schools.
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Best Schools for Astronomy in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall astronomy education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Astronomy
Our analysis ranked University Of Maryland College Park the best school in the country for a degree in astronomy. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 30 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Maryland College Park earn a median of $57,901 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
See the full astronomy program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at Columbia University In The City Of New York, which ranked #2. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 astronomy degrees were awarded at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Typical student debt for the program is $23,258.
See the full astronomy program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
A rank of #3 makes Villanova University one of the top schools for astronomy. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 10 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from Villanova University earn around $72,601 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Get the full astronomy details for Villanova University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 32 astronomy degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent 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. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,678 in student loans.
Read more about the astronomy program at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 4 schools evaluated.
- 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.
