2027 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astronomy & astrophysics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for astronomy & astrophysics students.
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2027 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
Princeton University tops our 2027 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools in the United States. Set in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,688. Students borrow a median of $10,888 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $67,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 5%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Arizona earned it the #2 place for astronomy & astrophysics. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $25,406 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Set against $25,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Harvard University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy & astrophysics, landing the #3 spot this year. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,676. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $16,616. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $95,207 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Harvard University admits about 4% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Colorado Boulder one of the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public school located in the city of Boulder. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $22,324. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Colorado Boulder earn a median of $45,066 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,324 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Other Astronomy & Astrophysics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value astronomy & astrophysics schools at other degree levels:
View All Astronomy & Astrophysics Rankings >
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
