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2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major

66 Ranked Colleges
522 Degrees Awarded
$34,200 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2021-2022, 765 people earned their degree in astronomy, making the major the 479th most popular in the United States.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 522 astronomy graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” ranking looked at 66 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their astronomy program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.

See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy

1
Lycoming crest
Lycoming College
Williamsport, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Lycoming College. The school came in at #1 for the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major. Lycoming College is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 2 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy at Lycoming College

2
Vassar crest
Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Vassar College landed the #2 spot on the list. Poughkeepsie, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Astronomy at Vassar

3
Wesleyan U crest
Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut

Out of the 66 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Wesleyan University landed the #3 spot on the list. Wesleyan U is a private not-for-profit institution located in Middletown, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 3 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wesleyan U Astronomy Report

4
Amherst crest
Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Amherst College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Amherst is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 98%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astronomy at Amherst

5

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Colorado Boulder. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 58 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Colorado Boulder

6
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Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Mount Holyoke College is a small school located in South Hadley, Massachusetts that handed out 11 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy at Mt. Holyoke

7
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Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

Whitman College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. This small school is located in Walla Walla, Washington, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Whitman College Astronomy Report

8
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Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Valparaiso, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Valparaiso University Astronomy Report

9
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Hampshire College ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Hampshire is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 0 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy at Hampshire

10

University of Hawaii at Hilo landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Hilo, Hawaii is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Hawaii at Hilo

11
SUNY New Paltz crest
SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

SUNY New Paltz landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. SUNY New Paltz is a medium-sized school located in New Paltz, New York that handed out 4 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Astronomy Report

12
Bennington crest
Bennington College
Bennington, Vermont

With a ranking of #12, Bennington College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. This small school is located in Bennington, Vermont, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy at Bennington

13
UChicago crest
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

University of Chicago ranked #13 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 24 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.

Read more about Astronomy at UChicago

14

University of Washington - Seattle Campus ranked #14 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Seattle, Washington is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to 37 students in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy at University of Washington - Seattle Campus

15
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Stonehill College
Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. This small school is located in Easton, Massachusetts, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read full report on Astronomy at Stonehill College

16
Haverford crest
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford College ranked #16 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Haverford, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read full report on Astronomy at Haverford College

17

University of Maryland - College Park came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. University of Maryland - College Park is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 20 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full University of Maryland - College Park Astronomy Report

18
Villanova crest
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #18, Villanova University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Villanova University is a fairly large school located in Villanova, Pennsylvania that handed out 8 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Astronomy at Villanova

19
Smith crest
Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts

Smith College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Northampton, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to 9 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Full Smith Astronomy Report

20
University of Virginia crest
University of Virginia - Main Campus
Charlottesville, Virginia

University of Virginia - Main Campus landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, this large public school awarded 14 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy at University of Virginia - Main Campus

21
Benedictine College crest
Benedictine College
Atchison, Kansas

Benedictine College ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Benedictine College is a small school located in Atchison, Kansas that handed out 3 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Benedictine College Astronomy Report

22
VSU crest
Valdosta State University
Valdosta, Georgia

With a ranking of #22, Valdosta State University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. Valdosta State University is a public institution located in Valdosta, Georgia. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy at VSU

23
Union College crest
Union College New York
Schenectady, New York

Union College New York came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking. Located in Schenectady, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Union College Astronomy Report

24

Ohio State University - Main Campus ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 31 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Astronomy at Ohio State University - Main Campus

25

University of Massachusetts Amherst did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #25. University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 18 bachelors’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy at UMass Amherst

Notes and References

References

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