2026 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the The Plains States Region
Astronomy & Astrophysics degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best astronomy & astrophysics schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the The Plains States Region
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
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities tops our 2026 ranking of the best astronomy & astrophysics schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. About 31 astronomy & astrophysics degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy & astrophysics degree from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn around $56,395 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
Get the full astronomy & astrophysics details for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
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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 · 8 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.
