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2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $48-$75k)

34 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$35,800 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master's For Those Making $48-$75k

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 195 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent astronomy and astrophysics programs, but they also 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. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

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 Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $48-$75k)

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. This fairly large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

MIT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts Institute of Technology are $56,719, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at MIT

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Harvard University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 13 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Harvard University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#3

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northwestern University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Northwestern is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Evanston, Illinois. It awarded 5 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northwestern

#4

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k. Princeton University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Princeton, New Jersey. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 15 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Princeton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton University are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Princeton University

#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 5 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Columbia University in the City of New York Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#6

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#5 in overall quality

Cornell University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 13 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell University are $30,042.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Cornell University

#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #9. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

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

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and it awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

U-M also took the #12 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#9

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMN Twin Cities are $28,845, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

#10

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #10, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #10 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Los Angeles

#20 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UW Seattle also took the #20 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

#12

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#8 in overall quality

With a ranking of #12, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of Arizona Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 2 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UIUC also took the #18 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Full UIUC Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#14

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#14 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 7 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Virginia

#15

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

Boston University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #15. Boston U is a large school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 12 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Boston U also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Boston U Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#19 in overall quality

Ohio State University - Main Campus came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State

#17

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#17 in overall quality

University of California - Berkeley ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. University of California - Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley

#18

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #18, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. UMCP is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

UMCP also took the #13 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Maryland - College Park

#19

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. Indiana University - Bloomington is a large public school situated in Bloomington, Indiana. It awarded 2 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #22 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at IU Bloomington

#21 in overall quality

The University of Texas at Austin came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. UT Austin is a large school located in Austin, Texas that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UT Austin

#21

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
#15 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 14 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CU - Boulder are $32,980.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at CU - Boulder

University of Nevada - Las Vegas came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a large public school situated in Las Vegas, Nevada. It awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Nevada - Las Vegas

#23

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 3 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at SDSU are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at SDSU

New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking, coming in at #24. New Mexico State University - Main Campus is a fairly large school located in Las Cruces, New Mexico that handed out 2 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at New Mexico State University - Main Campus are $18,275, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at NMSU Main Campus

#25

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #25 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $48-$75k ranking. University of California - Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz

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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