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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
176 Degrees Awarded
$9,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking.

Astronomy & Astrophysics is the 222nd most popular major in the country with 1,268 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. In 2017-2018, astronomy and astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $27,700 and had an average of $21,346 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Great Lakes region, there were 224 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 176 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,075 and $25,381 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 14 colleges that offered a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great astronomy and 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 astronomy and astrophysics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

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 “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in the Great Lakes Region

#1

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 6 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

UChicago also took the #2 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $2,712 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 100%. Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UChicago

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 40 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

UW - Madison also took the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $4,367 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Wisconsin - Madison

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 13 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

U-M also took the #3 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for U-M is $3,166 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%. The student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at U-M

#4 in overall quality

Out of the 14 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign landed the #4 spot on the list. Champaign, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 34 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UIUC is $5,477 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UIUC

#5 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a public institution located in Columbus, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #5 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State is $8,194 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 4.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $4,969 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

The low student loan default rate of 4.3% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Indiana University - Bloomington Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#7

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Michigan State University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Michigan State University is a large school located in East Lansing, Michigan that handed out 16 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $6,686 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The low student loan default rate of 3.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Michigan State University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#8

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Ball State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $8,403 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Ball State.

Full Ball State Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

Central Michigan University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Central Michigan is located in Mount Pleasant, Michigan and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Central Michigan, the school also landed the #13 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $11,598 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Central Michigan.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Central Michigan University

#9 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #10. UC is a large school located in Cincinnati, Ohio that handed out 9 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UC also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #9. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $15,078 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Cincinnati - Main Campus

#6 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Chicago, Illinois. It awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Illinois Tech, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $17,222 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k per year to attend Illinois Tech.

The low 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%. The student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. 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 Illinois Institute of Technology Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#12

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Wayne State University came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Detroit, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

Wayne State also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $11,413 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Full Wayne State Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Case Western is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Case Western did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Case Western Reserve University is $18,708 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Case Western

#12 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ohio University - Athens Campus is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k list, OHIO Athens has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $17,584 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio University - Athens Campus

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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

Footnotes

  • *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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