by our College Data Analytics Team
Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
Astronomy is the 479th most popular major in the country with 765 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 95 astronomy graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 27 colleges that offer a degree in astronomy. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in astronomy.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region” list, to help you choose the best school for you.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region”.
Out of the 27 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Monterey Peninsula College landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Monterey, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.
Out of the 27 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #2 spot on the list. Whitman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Walla Walla, Washington. It awarded 1 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
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. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Out of the 27 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Hawaii at Hilo landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Hilo, Hawaii, this small public school handed out 3 degrees to qualified ’s astronomical sciences 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%.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Washington - Seattle Campus. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified ’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Hawaii at Manoa. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region. UH Manoa is a fairly large public school situated in Honolulu, Hawaii. It awarded 13 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 Manoa
University of California - Santa Cruz ranked #6 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 12 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
San Diego State University came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. San Diego State University is a large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 10 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #8, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. SBCC is located in Santa Barbara, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of Nevada - Las Vegas is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% 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%.
Southwestern College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. Chula Vista, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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%.
Santiago Canyon College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #11. This fairly large school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 1 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Orange Coast College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #12. Orange Coast College is a fairly large school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Moorpark College ranked #13 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. Moorpark, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
With a ranking of #14, Saddleback College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Mission Viejo, California, this fairly large public school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
University of Southern California ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 1 ’s astronomical sciences degrees to qualified students.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.
Palomar College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #16. This fairly large school is located in San Marcos, California, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
Cabrillo College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Aptos, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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%.
With a ranking of #16, San Bernardino Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 1 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy at San Bernardino Valley College
Crafton Hills College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Yucaipa, California, this medium-sized public school handed out 0 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.
Fullerton College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Located in Fullerton, California, this fairly large public school awarded 0 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomical sciences students in 2021-2022.
University of California - Berkeley ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
With a ranking of #16, MiraCosta College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. Oceanside, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 100%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
With a ranking of #16, El Camino College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. El Camino College is a fairly large school located in Torrance, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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%.
Hartnell College came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Hartnell College is a medium-sized public school situated in Salinas, California. It awarded 2 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
With a ranking of #16, San Diego City College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. San Diego, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
With a ranking of #16, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region list. University of California - Los Angeles is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.7% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astronomy at University of California - Los Angeles
Irvine Valley College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomical Sciences Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Irvine, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomical sciences degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies