2026 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

Astronomy & Astrophysics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools to find the best for astronomy & astrophysics students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Illinois

Best Schools for Astronomy & Astrophysics in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall astronomy & astrophysics education in Illinois.

Top Schools in Astronomy & Astrophysics

1

University Of Chicago
Chicago, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

32 Astronomy & Astrophysics Degrees Awarded

$81,002 Median Starting Salary

Our analysis ranked University Of Chicago the best school in the country for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 32 astronomy & astrophysics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Chicago in the most recent data year. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete this degree. Get the full astronomy & astrophysics details for University Of Chicago

2

University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
Champaign, IL

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

35 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. Set in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign awarded about 35 astronomy & astrophysics degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy & astrophysics degree from University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn around $57,461 in the first couple years of their career. 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

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 5 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.