2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region
24
Ranked Colleges
$34,500
Avg Cost*
When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2021-2022, 1,396 people earned their degree in astronomy & astrophysics, making the major the 219th most popular in the United States. In , astronomy & astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $29,129 and had an average of $23,581 in loans still to pay off.
Across the Southwest region, there were 160 astronomy & astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,770 and $26,096 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region” ranking looked at 24 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy & astrophysics. That schools that top this list have a program in astronomy & astrophysics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
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 Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region”.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region”.
Top 24 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Southwest Region
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Arizona. The school came in at #1 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 50 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Arizona
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 #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 39 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UT Austin
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, New Mexico State University - Main Campus landed the #3 spot on the list. This fairly large school is located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and it awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at NMSU Main Campus
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Rice University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
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. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Rice Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Out of the 24 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #5 spot on the list. UNM is a public institution located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of New Mexico - Main Campus
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Oklahoma is located in Norman, Oklahoma and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 11 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #7, Texas Christian University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. TCU is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Fort Worth, Texas. It awarded 6 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
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%. 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Texas Christian University
Baylor University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Waco, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Baylor
Northern Arizona University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. NAU is a large school located in Flagstaff, Arizona that handed out 17 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Northern Arizona University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #10, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 4 students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%. 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at ASU - Tempe
With a ranking of #11, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 7 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% 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%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Texas A&M College Station
Arizona State University - Skysong came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. This large school is located in Scottsdale, Arizona, and it awarded 3 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at ASU - Skysong
Phoenix College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Phoenix College is a medium-sized public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Phoenix College
With a ranking of #13, Rio Salado College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Tempe, Arizona is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% 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 Rio Salado College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
South Mountain Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. South Mountain Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 South Mountain Community College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
GateWay Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. GateWay Community College is located in Phoenix, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at GateWay Community College
Paradise Valley Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Paradise Valley Community College is a medium-sized school located in Phoenix, Arizona that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Paradise Valley Community College
With a ranking of #13, Chandler-Gilbert Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Chandler-Gilbert Community College is a public institution located in Chandler, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 1 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Chandler-Gilbert Community College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Lee College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. Baytown, Texas is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Lee College
Scottsdale Community College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Scottsdale Community College is a public institution located in Scottsdale, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Scottsdale Community College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott is located in Prescott, Arizona and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
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%.
Full Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #13, Glendale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Glendale Community College is a fairly large school located in Glendale, Arizona that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.4% 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Glendale Community College
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Estrella Mountain Community College is a public institution located in Avondale, Arizona. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Estrella Mountain Community College
Mesa Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #13. Located in Mesa, Arizona, this fairly large public school handed out 0 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Mesa Community College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
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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
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate 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.
