Best Schools for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the United States
Below are the best astronomy & astrophysics schools at the master’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Our analysis ranked California Institute Of Technology the best school in the country for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 94% of students finish within six years. California Institute Of Technology awarded about 10 astronomy & astrophysics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy & astrophysics program make about $173,344 in their early career.
More information about a degree in astronomy & astrophysics from California Institute Of Technology
A rank of #2 makes Princeton University one of the top schools for astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 98% of students complete a degree within six years here. Princeton University awarded about 14 astronomy & astrophysics degrees in the most recent data year. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of Princeton University earn a median of $67,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $10,888.
Get the full astronomy & astrophysics details for Princeton University
The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy & astrophysics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. About 10 astronomy & astrophysics degrees were awarded at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy & astrophysics degree from The University Of Texas At Austin earn around $29,404 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
Read more about the astronomy & astrophysics program at The University Of Texas At Austin
Other Astronomy & Astrophysics Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Astronomy & Astrophysics rankings across degree levels:
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 163 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.
