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2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California

23 Ranked Colleges
252 Degrees Awarded
$38,800 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Astronomy & Astrophysics is the 219th most popular major in the country with 1,375 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. 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 California, there were 252 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $19,734 respectively.

For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California” ranking, we looked at 23 colleges that offer a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their astronomy and astrophysics program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California” list to help you make the college decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California”.

Top 23 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in California

1

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 28 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Caltech

2

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Cruz, California. It awarded 76 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full UC Santa Cruz Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

3
Monterey Peninsula College crest
Monterey Peninsula College
Monterey, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Monterey Peninsula College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California. Monterey Peninsula College is a medium-sized public school situated in Monterey, California. It awarded 15 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Monterey Peninsula College

4

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 65 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.8% 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Berkeley

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California. University of California - Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 43 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% 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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full UCLA Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

6
SDSU crest
San Diego State University
San Diego, California

San Diego State University came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 15 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at SDSU

7
SBCC crest
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. Santa Barbara City College is a public institution located in Santa Barbara, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full SBCC Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

8
SWC Chula Vista crest
Southwestern College
Chula Vista, California

Southwestern College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Southwestern College is a public institution located in Chula Vista, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at SWC Chula Vista

9
SCC crest
Santiago Canyon College
Orange, California

Santiago Canyon College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. SCC is a fairly large school located in Orange, California that handed out 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at SCC

10
Orange Coast College crest
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, California

With a ranking of #10, Orange Coast College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Orange Coast College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

11
Moorpark College crest
Moorpark College
Moorpark, California

Moorpark College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Moorpark, California, and it awarded 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Moorpark College

12
Saddleback College crest
Saddleback College
Mission Viejo, California

Saddleback College ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Saddleback College is a fairly large public school situated in Mission Viejo, California. It awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Saddleback College

13
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University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California

University of Southern California ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 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 University of Southern California

14
San Diego City College crest
San Diego City College
San Diego, California

San Diego City College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Diego City College

14
Fullerton College crest
Fullerton College
Fullerton, California

Fullerton College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Fullerton, California, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Fullerton College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

14
San Bernardino Valley College crest
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California

With a ranking of #14, San Bernardino Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. San Bernardino Valley College is a medium-sized school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Full San Bernardino Valley College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

14
Hartnell College crest
Hartnell College
Salinas, California

With a ranking of #14, Hartnell College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Located in Salinas, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

Full Hartnell College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

14
Irvine Valley College crest
Irvine Valley College
Irvine, California

With a ranking of #14, Irvine Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 0 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Irvine Valley College

14
Cabrillo College crest
Cabrillo College
Aptos, California

Cabrillo College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Cabrillo College is a public institution located in Aptos, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Cabrillo College

14
Palomar College crest
Palomar College
San Marcos, California

Palomar College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. Located in San Marcos, California, this fairly large public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Palomar College

14
MiraCosta College crest
MiraCosta College
Oceanside, California

MiraCosta College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at MiraCosta College

14
El Camino College crest
El Camino College
Torrance, California

El Camino College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. El Camino College is a fairly large school located in Torrance, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at El Camino College

14
CHC crest
Crafton Hills College
Yucaipa, California

Crafton Hills College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. Crafton Hills College is located in Yucaipa, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at CHC

Notes and References

References

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