2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 1,268 people earned their degree in astronomy and astrophysics, making the major the 222nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, astronomy and astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $27,700 and had an average of $21,346 in loans still to pay off.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 195 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
For this year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s” ranking, we looked at 35 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
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Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
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Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Madison, Wisconsin, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW - Madison, the school also landed the #9 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Wisconsin - Madison
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. UMN Twin Cities is a large public school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
UMN Twin Cities also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
Out of the 35 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Texas A&M University - College Station landed the #3 spot on the list. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Texas A&M College Station did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Texas A&M College Station Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend The University of Texas at Austin. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s. Located in Austin, Texas, this large public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students list, UT Austin has also earned the #21 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The University of Texas at Austin are $22,886.
Full The University of Texas at Austin Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Cornell University. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 13 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Cornell also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #5. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Cornell University
With a ranking of #6, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this fairly large public school handed out 2 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at NMSU Main Campus are $18,275, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at NMSU Main Campus
With a ranking of #7, University of Maryland - College Park did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. University of Maryland - College Park is located in College Park, Maryland and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 9 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
UMCP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #13 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Iowa State University came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. Iowa State University is a large school located in Ames, Iowa that handed out 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Virginia - Main Campus ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 7 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
University of Virginia also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Virginia
With a ranking of #10, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students list, UCLA has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Los Angeles
Northern Arizona University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at NAU are $19,489.
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. UIUC is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
UIUC also took the #18 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Arizona landed the #13 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 18 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
University of Arizona not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Arizona
San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658.
University of Nevada - Las Vegas landed the #15 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nevada - Las Vegas are $21,962.
University of Arkansas came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. UARK is a large public school situated in Fayetteville, Arkansas. It awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arkansas are $22,121, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Washington - Seattle Campus landed the #17 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Seattle, Washington, and it awarded 11 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
UW Seattle also took the #20 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW Seattle are $30,294.
Full University of Washington - Seattle Campus Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Colorado Boulder came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking. CU - Boulder is a large public school situated in Boulder, Colorado. It awarded 14 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at CU - Boulder, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Boulder are $32,980, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Colorado Boulder
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #19. Bloomington, Indiana is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
IU Bloomington not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #22 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at IU Bloomington
With a ranking of #20, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at ASU - Tempe are $27,048, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Arizona State University - Tempe
Pennsylvania State University - University Park ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list.
Penn State University Park also took the #11 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Penn State University Park are $38,728.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Penn State University Park
With a ranking of #22, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #17 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Berkeley are $29,347.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley
Michigan State University ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Michigan State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full Michigan State University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. University of California - Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #25, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s list. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.
Ohio State also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #19. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.
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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
Footnotes
- *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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