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2026 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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for astronomy & astrophysics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools

1

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

$18,267 In-State Tuition & Fees

$20,778 Avg Student Debt

$81,054 Median Earnings (10yr)

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign tops our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools in Illinois. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,778 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $57,461. That is a strong return on a $20,778 median debt. The acceptance rate is 42%.

2

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

$69,324 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,854 Avg Student Debt

$91,885 Median Earnings (10yr)

Students looking for strong value in astronomy & astrophysics will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $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. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Chicago admits about 4% of applicants.

View All Astronomy & Astrophysics Rankings >

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 5 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.