2026 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Southwest Region
Astronomy & Astrophysics is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 23 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for astronomy & astrophysics students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall astronomy & astrophysics education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Our analysis ranked University Of Arizona the best school in the country for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 44 astronomy & astrophysics students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $50,834. Typical student debt for the program is $25,406.
Get the full astronomy & astrophysics details for University Of Arizona
The University Of Texas At Austin is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics, ranking #2. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. The University Of Texas At Austin awarded about 43 astronomy & astrophysics degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy & astrophysics program make about $29,404 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,250.
See the full astronomy & astrophysics program report for The University Of Texas At Austin
Arizona State University Skysong is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in astronomy & astrophysics, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Scottsdale. About 26 astronomy & astrophysics degrees were awarded at Arizona State University Skysong in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy & astrophysics degree from Arizona State University Skysong earn around $55,793 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,742 to complete this degree.
Get the full astronomy & astrophysics details for Arizona State University Skysong
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 23 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.
