2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools
17
Ranked Colleges
460
Degrees Awarded
$22,000
Avg Net Price*
With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools” ranking - to help you make that decision.
Astrophysics is the 598th most popular major in the country with 460 degrees awarded in 2020-2021.
This year’s “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered a degree in astrophysics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great astrophysics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the astrophysics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.
Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools.
Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Astrophysics
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 23 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for astrophysical sciences students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. 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 full report on Astrophysics at UMN Twin Cities
Out of the 17 schools in the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 10 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UC is $22,415 for astrophysical sciences students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astrophysics at UC
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Oklahoma Norman Campus. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
University of Oklahoma also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #16. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is $21,122 for Astrophysical Sciences students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Astrophysics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Arizona State University - Tempe. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. ASU - Tempe is a large school located in Tempe, Arizona that handed out 6 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students list, ASU - Tempe has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $13,107 for Astrophysical Sciences students.
With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astrophysics at ASU - Tempe
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio University - Athens Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools. Athens, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for OHIO Athens is $23,831 for astrophysical sciences students.
Read full report on Astrophysics at OHIO Athens
University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 26 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students list, UW - Madison has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for astrophysical sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, 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 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astrophysics at UW - Madison
University of Colorado Boulder landed the #7 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking. University of Colorado Boulder is a large school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 13 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CU - Boulder is $20,967 for Astrophysical Sciences students.
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 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astrophysics at CU - Boulder
Rutgers University - New Brunswick did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking, coming in at #8. Rutgers New Brunswick is a large public school situated in New Brunswick, New Jersey. It awarded 13 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Rutgers New Brunswick not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #14 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend Rutgers New Brunswick is $23,035 for astrophysical sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astrophysics at Rutgers University - New Brunswick
With a ranking of #9, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. Michigan State is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 22 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,058 for astrophysical sciences students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Michigan State Astrophysics Report
University of California - Berkeley landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 61 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $16,032 for astrophysical sciences students per year to attend UC Berkeley.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astrophysics at UC Berkeley
University of California - Los Angeles came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 32 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UCLA is $15,023 for astrophysical sciences students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UCLA Astrophysics Report
University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking, coming in at #12. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school awarded 65 degrees to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UC Santa Cruz is $17,930 for astrophysical sciences students.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz
Baylor University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking, coming in at #13. Baylor is located in Waco, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 3 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Baylor also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #12. The yearly cost to attend Baylor University is $37,309 for Astrophysical Sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%.
Full Baylor University Astrophysics Report
Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools list. Illinois Tech is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech also took the #11 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $23,772 for Astrophysical Sciences students per year to attend Illinois Institute of Technology.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 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 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astrophysics at Illinois Institute of Technology
Rochester Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking, coming in at #15. Located in Rochester, New York, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 10 degrees to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
RIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend RIT is $34,822 for astrophysical sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.9% 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 Astrophysics at Rochester Institute of Technology
Williams College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking. Williams is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.
Williams did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Williams is $23,497 for astrophysical sciences students.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astrophysics at Williams
California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools ranking, coming in at #17. This small school is located in Pasadena, California, and it awarded 17 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students list, Caltech has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for California Institute of Technology is $26,542 for astrophysical sciences students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Full California Institute of Technology Astrophysics Report
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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
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees 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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