[Physics And Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/physics-and-astronomy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 2 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value physics and astronomy schools.
Finding the Best Value Physics And Astronomy School for You
Where you study physics and astronomy affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Physics And Astronomy Schools ranking. We score each school on the balance of tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the best value.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Physics And Astronomy Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Northern Arizona University tops our 2027 list of the best value physics and astronomy schools in the United States. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Students borrow a median of $21,645 to complete the physics and astronomy program here. Physics And Astronomy graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $47,056 early in their careers. Set against $21,645 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Arizona University admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Kentucky earned it the #2 place for physics and astronomy. University Of Kentucky is a very large public school located in the city of Lexington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Physics And Astronomy graduates carry a median of $24,094 in student loans. Soon after graduation, physics and astronomy degree recipients from University Of Kentucky generally make around $49,568. Set against $24,094 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 2 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.
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).
[Physics And Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/physics-and-astronomy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
