2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in California
[Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astrophysics/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astrophysics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for astrophysics students.
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2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astrophysics Schools
Leading the list is University Of California Los Angeles, our #1 best value for astrophysics in California. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $14,233 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for astrophysics graduates is $16,097. Early-career astrophysics graduates make about $63,833. That is a strong return on a $16,097 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astrophysics, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Typical student debt for astrophysics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, astrophysics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $54,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the best values for astrophysics. University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Cruz. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, compared with $46,923 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astrophysics graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, astrophysics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz generally make around $35,171. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
California Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astrophysics, landing the #4 spot this year. California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $65,898. Astrophysics graduates of California Institute Of Technology earn a median of $173,344 early in their careers. California Institute Of Technology admits about 3% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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.
