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2022 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

14 Ranked Colleges
176 Degrees Awarded
$21,700 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor's in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking - to help you make that 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 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.

For this year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k” ranking, we looked at 14 colleges that offer 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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 $75-$110k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our 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 Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k

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 $75-$110k.

Top 14 Best Value Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $75-$110k) in the Great Lakes Region

#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, this large public school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #3. It costs about $18,039 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend U-M.

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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at U-M

#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 $75-$110k. University of Chicago 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 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 $17,929 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. The school has an impressive student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Chicago

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. UW - Madison is a large public school situated in Madison, Wisconsin. It awarded 40 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #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 $21,860 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

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

#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k. Located in Champaign, Illinois, this large public school handed out 34 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k list, UIUC has also earned the #4 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $21,998 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend UIUC.

The student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#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 $75-$110k list. Ohio State is a large public school situated in Columbus, Ohio. It awarded 27 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $21,364 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

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

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State

#6

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#8 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking, coming in at #6. 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 $75-$110k 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 $18,951 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Indiana University - Bloomington.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Full IU Bloomington Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#6 in overall quality

Illinois Institute of Technology ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Illinois Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Illinois Tech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $24,888 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Illinois Tech.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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 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 Tech

#8

Ball State University

Muncie, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, Ball State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Ball State is a public institution located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Ball State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ball State is $19,446 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Ball State University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#9

Central Michigan University

Mount Pleasant, Michigan
#13 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, 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 $75-$110k list. This fairly large school is located in Mount Pleasant, 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 $75-$110k list, Central Michigan has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Central Michigan is $17,894 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

Full Central Michigan Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#10

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
#7 in overall quality

Michigan State University ranked #10 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k list, Michigan State has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $25,389 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Michigan State University.

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 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Michigan State University

#11

Wayne State University

Detroit, Michigan
#14 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, Wayne State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k list. 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.

In addition to being on our great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k 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 is $17,909 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wayne State University

#9 in overall quality

University of Cincinnati - Main Campus 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 $75-$110k ranking. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 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. It costs about $23,366 for Great Lakes Region Bachelor’s Degree Astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus.

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

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

#12 in overall quality

Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. OHIO Athens is a large public school situated in Athens, Ohio. It awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

OHIO Athens also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list, coming in at #12. It costs about $25,039 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k per year to attend Ohio University - Athens Campus.

Full OHIO Athens Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#10 in overall quality

Case Western Reserve University came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Bachelor’s in the Great Lakes Region For Those Making $75-$110k ranking. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students 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 is $29,607 for great lakes region bachelor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $75-$110k.

With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its students. 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%.

Full Case Western Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

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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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