2027 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for astronomy & astrophysics students.
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2027 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the astronomy & astrophysics degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
For return on investment in astronomy & astrophysics, no school beat University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign this year. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,096. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 42%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Chicago one of the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $81,002. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
