2027 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

Astronomy & Astrophysics programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their astronomy & astrophysics programs.

For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 2 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for astronomy & astrophysics students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

Best Schools for Astronomy & Astrophysics in Illinois

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the astronomy & astrophysics degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Astronomy & Astrophysics

1

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

24 Astronomy & Astrophysics Degrees Awarded

$81,002 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of Chicago, our #1 school for astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 24 astronomy & astrophysics degrees were awarded at University Of Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy & astrophysics degree from University Of Chicago earn around $81,002 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. More information about a degree in astronomy & astrophysics from University Of Chicago

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

49 Astronomy & Astrophysics Degrees Awarded

$57,461 Median Starting Salary

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics, ranking #2. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 49 astronomy & astrophysics degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,778. More information about a degree in astronomy & astrophysics from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2 schools evaluated.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.