2023 Best Value Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Great Lakes Region
12
Ranked Colleges
249
Degrees Awarded
$19,300
Avg Net Price*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
Across the Great Lakes region, there were 249 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $19,258 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, we looked at 12 colleges that offer 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.
When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the astronomy and astrophysics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region.
Top 12 Best Value Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Great Lakes Region
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Cincinnati - Main Campus landed the #1 spot on the list. University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is a large public school situated in Cincinnati, Ohio. It awarded 10 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
UC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #10 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for great lakes region astronomy students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 88%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 27 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UIUC did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. It costs about $14,321 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students per year to attend UIUC.
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%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Madison, Wisconsin, this large public school handed out 30 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison is $17,234 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UW - Madison
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Ohio State University - Main Campus landed the #4 spot on the list. Ohio State is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 41 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Ohio State University - Main Campus is $16,845 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State
Out of the 12 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Bloomington, Indiana, this large public school awarded 14 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
IU Bloomington did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #8 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The yearly cost to attend IU Bloomington is $14,619 for great lakes region astronomy students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Indiana University - Bloomington
Michigan State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #6. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 22 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Michigan State is $19,058 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Michigan State
Wayne State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. Wayne State is located in Detroit, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 5 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Wayne State did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #12 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Wayne State is $13,962 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wayne State
Valparaiso University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. This small school is located in Valparaiso, Indiana, and it awarded 5 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Valpo, the school also landed the #11 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Valparaiso University is $22,899 for Great Lakes Region Astronomy students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.0% 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%.
Full Valparaiso University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region list. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor is a large school located in Ann Arbor, Michigan that handed out 25 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at U-M, the school also landed the #6 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. It costs about $14,878 for great lakes region astronomy students per year to attend U-M.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Full University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #10. Illinois Institute of Technology is a medium-sized school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region astronomy students list, Illinois Tech has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Illinois Institute of Technology is $23,772 for great lakes region 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. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Illinois Tech
Northwestern University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking, coming in at #11. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 14 students in 2020-2021.
Northwestern did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” list. The estimated yearly cost for Northwestern is $23,279 for great lakes region astronomy students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northwestern University
University of Chicago came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools in the Great Lakes Region ranking. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school awarded 28 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our great lakes region astronomy students list, UChicago has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Great Lakes Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend University of Chicago is $28,517 for great lakes region astronomy students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.0%, 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 100%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Chicago
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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
- *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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