2026 Best Value Planetary Astronomy & Science Schools in the Far Western Region
[Planetary Astronomy & Science](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/planetary-astronomy-and-science/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong planetary astronomy & science education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value planetary astronomy & science schools.
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2026 Best Value Planetary Astronomy & Science Schools in the Far Western Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the planetary astronomy & science degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Planetary Astronomy & Science Schools
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #1 spot for value among planetary astronomy & science schools in the Far Western Region. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Typical student debt for planetary astronomy & science graduates is $16,097. Planetary Astronomy & Science graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes University Of California Berkeley one of the best values for planetary astronomy & science. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for planetary astronomy & science graduates is $19,500. Soon after graduation, planetary astronomy & science degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $54,746. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of California Berkeley admits about 11% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in planetary astronomy & science will find it at California Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,898. Early-career planetary astronomy & science graduates make about $173,344. Roughly 3% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
