2023 Best Value Colleges for Astrophysics (With Aid)
17
Ranked Colleges
460
Degrees Awarded
$22,000
Avg Net Price*
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 “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
In 2020-2021, 460 people earned their degree in astrophysics, making the major the 598th most popular in the United States.
This year’s “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking analyzed 17 colleges that offered a degree in astrophysics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent astrophysics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the astrophysics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.
One Size Does Not Fit All
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.
Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid.
Top 17 Best Value Colleges for Astrophysics (With Aid)
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Berkeley. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid. University of California - Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Berkeley also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #1. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Berkeley is $16,032 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
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 undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 32 degrees to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
UCLA also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #2. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Los Angeles is $15,023 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.
Read more about Astrophysics at UCLA
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Wisconsin - Madison. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 26 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.
UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #4 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend UW - Madison is $17,234 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Astrophysics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Williams College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Williams College is a small school located in Williamstown, Massachusetts that handed out 5 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Williams also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #5. The estimated yearly cost for Williams College is $23,497 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 90%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.
Full Williams College Astrophysics Report
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid. Located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this large public school awarded 23 degrees to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
UMN Twin Cities also took the #6 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend UMN Twin Cities is $17,878 for astrophysical sciences students with aid.
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 1.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UMN Twin Cities Astrophysics Report
University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #6 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 65 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
UC Santa Cruz not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for University of California - Santa Cruz is $17,930 for astrophysical sciences students with aid.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full University of California - Santa Cruz Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #7, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Michigan State University is a public institution located in East Lansing, Michigan. The school has a large population, and it awarded 22 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
As a testament to the quality of education offered at Michigan State, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Michigan State is $19,058 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.6% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Read full report on Astrophysics at Michigan State
With a ranking of #8, Arizona State University - Tempe did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This large school is located in Tempe, Arizona, and it awarded 6 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
ASU - Tempe did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for ASU - Tempe is $13,107 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full Arizona State University - Tempe Astrophysics Report
University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #9. This large school is located in Boulder, Colorado, and it awarded 13 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
In addition to being on our astrophysical sciences students with aid list, CU - Boulder has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for CU - Boulder is $20,967 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 85%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astrophysics at CU - Boulder
Rutgers University - New Brunswick landed the #10 spot on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. Located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, this large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Rutgers New Brunswick also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #14. It costs about $23,035 for astrophysical sciences students with aid per year to attend Rutgers New Brunswick.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 93%. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Rutgers University - New Brunswick Astrophysics Report
California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #11. California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
Caltech not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The yearly cost to attend California Institute of Technology is $26,542 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Astrophysics at California Institute of Technology
University of Cincinnati - Main Campus came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking. UC is a public institution located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.
UC also took the #13 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Cincinnati - Main Campus is $22,415 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 88%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Astrophysics Report
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid ranking, coming in at #13. Norman, Oklahoma is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 6 students in 2020-2021.
University of Oklahoma also took the #16 spot in our “Best Astrophysics Schools” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for University of Oklahoma is $21,122 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 87%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astrophysics at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
With a ranking of #14, Illinois Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Located in Chicago, Illinois, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified ’s astrophysical sciences students in 2020-2021.
Illinois Tech did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #11 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. It costs about $23,772 for astrophysical sciences students with aid per year to attend Illinois Tech.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Read more about Astrophysics at Illinois Tech
Ohio University - Athens Campus ranked #15 on this year’s Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. OHIO Athens is located in Athens, Ohio and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 2 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.
OHIO Athens not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. It costs about $23,831 for astrophysical sciences students with aid per year to attend OHIO Athens.
Full OHIO Athens Astrophysics Report
Rochester Institute of Technology ranked #16 on this year’s Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. This fairly large school is located in Rochester, New York, and it awarded 10 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
RIT also made our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list, coming in at #9. It costs about $34,822 for Astrophysical Sciences students with aid per year to attend Rochester Institute of Technology.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 86%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read more about Astrophysics at RIT
With a ranking of #17, Baylor University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Astrophysical Sciences Schools For Those Getting Aid list. Baylor University is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Waco, Texas. It awarded 3 ’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2020-2021.
Baylor not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best Astrophysics Schools” list. The estimated yearly cost for Baylor is $37,309 for astrophysical sciences students with aid.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%.
Full Baylor University Astrophysics Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
