2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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 Illinois, there were 62 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 11 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $75,900 and $148,219 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 3 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 3 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in Illinois

#1

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois

#1 in overall quality

$56,567 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 3 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Northwestern also took the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northwestern University

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois

#2 in overall quality

$61,548 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 3 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Chicago landed the #2 spot on the list. Chicago, Illinois is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Chicago Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#3

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, Illinois

#3 in overall quality

$30,083 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in Illinois For Those Making $0-$30k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 2 doctorate’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in Illinois” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are $30,083.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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

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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