2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astrophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for astrophysics students.
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2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astrophysics Schools
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 list of the best value astrophysics schools in the Great Lakes Region. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Early-career astrophysics graduates make about $57,461. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value astrophysics schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public school located in the city of Madison. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astrophysics graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison generally make around $45,783. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 45%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Michigan State University earned it the #3 place for astrophysics. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the astrophysics program here. Astrophysics graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $33,373 early in their careers. Set against $25,213 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 16 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
