2023 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
43
Ranked Colleges
187
Degrees Awarded
$35,400
Avg Cost*
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking.
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.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 187 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $58,425 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking, we looked at 43 colleges that offer a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. That schools that top this list have a program in astronomy and astrophysics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
One Size Does Not Fit All
The astronomy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major”.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major
The colleges and universities below are the best for master’s degree astronomy students.
Top 25 Most Focused Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major. California Institute of Technology is located in Pasadena, California and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 16 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at California Institute of Technology
Out of the 43 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #2 spot on the list. Princeton University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Princeton, New Jersey. It awarded 21 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 4 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Princeton University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rochester Institute of Technology. The school came in at #3 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 5 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Rochester Institute of Technology
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Colorado Boulder. The school came in at #4 for the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major. Located in Boulder, Colorado, this large public school handed out 10 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 85%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at CU - Boulder
Out of the 43 schools in the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Northwestern University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Evanston, Illinois, this large private not-for-profit school handed out 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northwestern University
With a ranking of #6, Harvard University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Harvard
Wesleyan University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #7. Located in Middletown, Connecticut, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 1 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Wesleyan U Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Hawaii at Manoa came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. UH Manoa is a fairly large public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UH Manoa Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Arizona ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. University of Arizona is a public institution located in Tucson, Arizona. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Arizona
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz
University of California - Berkeley ranked #11 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. UC Berkeley is a large public school situated in Berkeley, California. It awarded 11 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full UC Berkeley Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in College Park, Maryland, and it awarded 8 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full UMCP Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #13, New Mexico State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Las Cruces, New Mexico is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2020-2021.
Full New Mexico State University - Main Campus Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
San Diego State University landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 6 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Diego State University
With a ranking of #15, Florida Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Florida Tech is located in Melbourne, Florida and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Full Florida Institute of Technology Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #16. Ohio State University - Main Campus is a large school located in Columbus, Ohio that handed out 8 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State University - Main Campus
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Troy, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Chicago came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. This fairly large school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.0%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Chicago
Indiana University - Bloomington did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major 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 5 students in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at IU Bloomington
Cornell University ranked #20 on this year’s Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Cornell is a large school located in Ithaca, New York that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Cornell
University of Virginia - Main Campus came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. University of Virginia is a large school located in Charlottesville, Virginia that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Virginia - Main Campus
University of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Located in Amherst, Massachusetts, this large public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%.
Full UMass Amherst Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Columbia University in the City of New York did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #23. Columbia University in the City of New York is a large private not-for-profit school situated in New York, New York. It awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Full Columbia University in the City of New York Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #24, Massachusetts Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. MIT is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% 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 impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Case Western Reserve University came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Master’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Case Western Reserve University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Cleveland, Ohio. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2020-2021.
With a freshman retention rate of 93%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Case Western
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