by our College Data Analytics TeamFor its 2024 ranking, College Factual looked at 26 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for astronomy & astrophysics students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 187 master's degrees in astronomy & astrophysics to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Our Methodology
Your choice of astronomy & astrophysics for getting your master's degree school matters. This section explores some of the factors we include in our ranking and how much they vary depending on the school you select. Below we explain some of the most important factors to consider before making your choice:
The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a quality education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a college's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a combination of various factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.
Average early-career salary of those graduating with their master's degree is one indicator we use in our analysis to find the schools that offer the highest-quality education. After all, your master's degree won't mean much if it doesn't help you find a job that will help you earn a living.
The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.
Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best colleges for astronomy & astrophysics students working on their master's degree.
The astronomy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we've developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of the Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master's Degree Schools.
Learn about the top ranked colleges and universities for astronomy & astrophysics students seeking a a master's degree.
Northwestern University is a wonderful option for students interested in a master's degree in astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the city of Evanston, Northwestern is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from Northwestern University
California Institute of Technology is one of the best schools in the United States for getting a master's degree in astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the midsize city of Pasadena, Caltech is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from California Institute of Technology
University of Arizona is a great decision for individuals interested in a master's degree in astronomy & astrophysics. University of Arizona is a fairly large public university located in the city of Tucson.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of Arizona
It's hard to beat University of Chicago if you want to pursue a master's degree in astronomy & astrophysics. UChicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of Chicago.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of Chicago
It's hard to beat University of California - Berkeley if you want to pursue a master's degree in astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of California - Berkeley
UT Austin is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Austin.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from The University of Texas at Austin
UW - Madison is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Madison.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of Wisconsin - Madison
Located in the small suburb of Charlottesville, University of Virginia is a public university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of Virginia - Main Campus
Located in the small city of Ithaca, Cornell is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from Cornell University
UCLA is a very large public university located in the city of Los Angeles.More information about a master’s in astronomy & astrophysics from University of California - Los Angeles
View the Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.
Astronomy & Astrophysics is one of 8 different types of Physical Sciences programs to choose from.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Astronomy | 98 |
| Astrophysics | 65 |
| Planetary Astronomy & Science | 16 |
| Other Astronomy & Astrophysics | 8 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 2,246 |
| Physics | 1,949 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 1,663 |
| Materials Sciences | 270 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 213 |
| Other Physical Science | 148 |
| General Physical Sciences | 75 |
| Physics and Astronomy | 9 |
