2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools
49
Ranked Colleges
1,375
Degrees Awarded
$17,100
Avg Net Price*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Astronomy Schools” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2020-2021, 1,375 people earned their degree in astronomy and astrophysics, making the major the 219th most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, astronomy and astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,221 and had an average of $24,484 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools” ranking analyzed 49 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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” 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. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
Best Value Astronomy Schools
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools.
Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Brigham Young University - Provo. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools. Brigham Young University - Provo is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Provo, Utah. It awarded 5 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for BYU is $13,474 for astronomy students.
With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full BYU Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wyoming landed the #2 spot on the list. University of Wyoming is a public institution located in Laramie, Wyoming. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 7 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UW is $11,085 for astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UW
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A&M University - College Station is a public institution located in College Station, Texas. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $18,919 for Astronomy students per year to attend Texas A&M College Station.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Texas A&M College Station
Out of the 49 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in Gainesville, Florida, this large public school handed out 28 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
UF also took the #23 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for UF is $5,135 for astronomy students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UF
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Northern Arizona University. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools list. Flagstaff, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 4 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for NAU is $14,308 for astronomy students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northern Arizona University
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. This large school is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and it awarded 23 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #17. The yearly cost to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities is $17,878 for Astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, 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.
Full University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $10,993 for astronomy students per year to attend UNLV.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UNLV
San Diego State University landed the #8 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 15 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The yearly cost to attend San Diego State University is $13,845 for astronomy students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, 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 89%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at SDSU
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. This large school is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and it awarded 10 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for UC is $22,415 for Astronomy students.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #10, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools list. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 7 students in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Astronomy students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Oklahoma
With a ranking of #11, University of Arizona did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools list. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 44 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
In addition to being on our astronomy students list, University of Arizona has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $13,358 for Astronomy students per year to attend University of Arizona.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Arizona
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. UIUC is a large public school situated in Champaign, Illinois. It awarded 27 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astronomy students list, UIUC has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $14,321 for astronomy students per year to attend UIUC.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.3%, 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.
Full University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Arizona State University - Tempe landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. Arizona State University - Tempe is located in Tempe, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 6 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for Arizona State University - Tempe is $13,107 for Astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.5%, 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 86%.
Full ASU - Tempe Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #14, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 30 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astronomy students list, UW - Madison has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Georgia landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. University of Georgia is a large school located in Athens, Georgia that handed out 8 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $14,257 for Astronomy students per year to attend UGA.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, 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 full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Georgia
The University of Texas at Austin came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. Austin, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 34 students in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UT Austin, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,350 for astronomy students per year to attend UT Austin.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.
Full The University of Texas at Austin Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Iowa ranked #17 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 10 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Iowa is $19,401 for astronomy students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Iowa Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Ohio University - Athens Campus landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. OHIO Athens is a large school located in Athens, Ohio that handed out 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for Ohio University - Athens Campus is $23,831 for astronomy students.
Full OHIO Athens Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Maryland - College Park landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 45 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astronomy students list, UMCP has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $18,048 for Astronomy students per year to attend University of Maryland - College Park.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UMCP Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking, coming in at #20. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 41 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State also took the #16 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. This large school is located in Bloomington, Indiana, and it awarded 14 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #25 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Indiana University - Bloomington is $14,619 for astronomy students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Indiana University - Bloomington Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Stony Brook University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools ranking, coming in at #22. This large school is located in Stony Brook, New York, and it awarded 12 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
It costs about $16,119 for astronomy students per year to attend Stony Brook University.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.0% 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 90%.
Full Stony Brook University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Kansas ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. University of Kansas is a large public school situated in Lawrence, Kansas. It awarded 9 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The estimated yearly cost for University of Kansas is $20,257 for Astronomy students.
The low undergrad 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 86%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at KU
University of Massachusetts Amherst ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools list. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school awarded 20 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
UMass Amherst also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #22. It costs about $22,038 for astronomy students per year to attend UMass Amherst.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UMass Amherst
With a ranking of #25, Cornell University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 12 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
Cornell also took the #5 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools” ranking. It costs about $37,042 for Astronomy students per year to attend Cornell University.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Cornell University
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