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2023 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Southwest Region

24 Ranked Colleges
119 Degrees Awarded
$34,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. One of our goals at College Factual is to give you as much information as we can - such as our “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region” ranking - to help you make that 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 the Southwest region, there were 119 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $42,770 and $25,982 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region” ranking analyzed 24 colleges that offered 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.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

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

1
University of Arizona crest
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona

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. Tucson, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 44 students 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

2

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, The University of Texas at Austin landed the #2 spot on the list. This large school is located in Austin, Texas, and it awarded 34 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.3% 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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at The University of Texas at Austin

3

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. NMSU Main Campus is a public institution located in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at NMSU Main Campus

4
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rice University. The school came in at #4 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region. Located in Houston, Texas, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Rice University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

5

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of New Mexico - Main Campus. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region. University of New Mexico - Main Campus is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 7 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of New Mexico - Main Campus

6

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Norman, Oklahoma, this large public school handed out 7 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 87%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Full University of Oklahoma Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

7
TCU crest
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking, coming in at #7. This fairly large school is located in Fort Worth, Texas, and it awarded 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Texas Christian University

8
Baylor crest
Baylor University
Waco, Texas

Baylor University ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Baylor is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 3 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.2% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Baylor

9
NAU crest
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona

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. Northern Arizona University is located in Flagstaff, Arizona and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Northern Arizona University

10

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. Arizona State University - Tempe is a large public school situated in Tempe, Arizona. It awarded 6 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at ASU - Tempe

11

Texas A&M University - College Station came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Texas A&M College Station is a large school located in College Station, Texas that handed out 3 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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%.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

12

Arizona State University - Skysong landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 1 students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full ASU - Skysong Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

13
Phoenix College crest
Phoenix College
Phoenix, Arizona

With a ranking of #13, Phoenix College did quite well on the 2023 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 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Phoenix College

13
Rio Salado College crest
Rio Salado College
Tempe, Arizona

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. Rio Salado College is a public institution located in Tempe, Arizona. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Rio Salado College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

13

With a ranking of #13, South Mountain Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this small public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at South Mountain Community College

13
GateWay Community College crest
GateWay Community College
Phoenix, Arizona

GateWay Community College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Phoenix, Arizona, this small public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at GateWay Community College

13

With a ranking of #13, Paradise Valley Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Paradise Valley Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Phoenix, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Paradise Valley Community College

13

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, Arizona 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Chandler-Gilbert Community College

13
Lee College crest
Lee College
Baytown, Texas

Lee College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Lee College is located in Baytown, Texas and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Lee College

13
Scottsdale Community College crest
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, Arizona

With a ranking of #13, Scottsdale Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Scottsdale, Arizona is the setting for this medium-sized 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 Scottsdale Community College

13

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Located in Prescott, Arizona, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Embry-Riddle Prescott Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

13
Glendale Community College crest
Glendale Community College
Glendale, Arizona

Glendale Community College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region ranking. Glendale Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Glendale, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Glendale Community College

13

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 medium-sized public school situated in Avondale, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Estrella Mountain Community College

13

With a ranking of #13, Mesa Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Southwest Region list. Mesa Community College is a fairly large public school situated in Mesa, Arizona. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Mesa Community College

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