2027 Best Astronomy Schools in the Southwest Region
Astronomy programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for astronomy students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Astronomy in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall astronomy education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Astronomy
University Of Arizona is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in astronomy. This very large public university is located in the city of Tucson. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Arizona awarded about 51 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $50,834 in their early career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans.
More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Arizona
The University Of Texas At Austin is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #2 spot this year. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. There were roughly 52 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin 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
Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #3. This large public university is located in the suburb of Las Cruces. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. New Mexico State University Main Campus awarded about 13 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $41,860. Typical student debt for the program is $19,026.
See the full astronomy program report for New Mexico State University Main Campus
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Notes and References
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 · 3 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.
