2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools.
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2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
For return on investment in astronomy & astrophysics, no school beat University Of California Los Angeles this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, with out-of-state students paying around $46,121. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $16,097 in student loans. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $63,833 early in their careers. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of California Los Angeles admits about 9% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Berkeley earned it the #2 place for astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $54,746 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Santa Cruz earned it the #3 place for astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $20,500. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $35,171. That is a strong return on a $20,500 median debt. University Of California Santa Cruz admits about 66% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in astronomy & astrophysics will find it at California Institute Of Technology, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Pasadena, California Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,898. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from California Institute Of Technology generally make around $173,344. The acceptance rate is 3%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
