Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Astronomy & Astrophysics

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

14 Ranked Colleges
176 Degrees Awarded
$11,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. 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 $30-$48k” ranking.

In 2019-2020, 1,268 people earned their degree in astronomy and astrophysics, making the major the 222nd most popular in the United States. 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 $30-$48k” ranking looked at 14 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy and astrophysics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality astronomy and astrophysics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the astronomy and astrophysics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k

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 $30-$48k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $30-$48k) in the Great Lakes Region

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 40 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $6,860 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#2

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Chicago. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. UChicago is located in Chicago, Illinois and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

UChicago not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $2,800 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UChicago.

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 school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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

#3 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 $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #3 spot on the list. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 13 students in 2019-2020.

U-M not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $5,887 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor.

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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students.

Full U-M Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#4 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 34 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #4 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is $8,464 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#5 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 27 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also took 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 University - Main Campus is $10,037 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Ohio State Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, IU Bloomington has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $6,192 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full IU 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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #7. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 16 students in 2019-2020.

Michigan State also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #7. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State University is $15,197 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

The student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full Michigan State Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#8

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

Ball State University ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Muncie, Indiana, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

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. The estimated yearly cost for Ball State University is $10,487 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ball State

#9 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, UC has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $18,106 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k per year to attend UC.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 88%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC

#10

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, Central Michigan University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Central Michigan University 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.

Central Michigan also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #13. The estimated yearly cost for Central Michigan is $12,127 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Central Michigan

#11

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

Wayne State University came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. This large school is located in Detroit, Michigan, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, Wayne State has also earned the #14 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Wayne State University is $11,554 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wayne State University

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Case Western not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Case Western Reserve University is $19,034 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

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

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Case Western

#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 $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 4 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #6. The yearly cost to attend Illinois Institute of Technology is $18,720 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Since the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Illinois Institute of Technology

#12 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #14. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend OHIO Athens is $18,863 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at OHIO Athens

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

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.

Featured Physical Sciences Schools

Find Schools Near You