College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astrophysics

46 Ranked Colleges
355 Degrees Awarded
$32,200 Avg Cost*
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major” ranking.

Astrophysics is the 598th most popular major in the country with 436 degrees awarded in 2021-2022.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 355 astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major” ranking analyzed 46 colleges that offered a degree in astrophysics. That schools that top this list have a program in astrophysics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Astrophysics Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Astrophysical Sciences Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major” 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. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

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

The colleges and universities below are the best for bachelor’s degree astrophysical sciences students.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astrophysics

1
Whitman crest
Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Whitman College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Whitman is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Walla Walla, Washington. It awarded 8 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Read more about Astrophysics at Whitman College

2
Agnes Scott crest
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Out of the 46 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Agnes Scott College landed the #2 spot on the list. This small school is located in Decatur, Georgia, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences 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%.

Full Agnes Scott Astrophysics Report

3
Lycoming crest
Lycoming College
Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Out of the 46 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Lycoming College landed the #3 spot on the list. Williamsport, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 7 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astrophysics at Lycoming

4
Swarthmore crest
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Out of the 46 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Swarthmore College landed the #4 spot on the list. Swarthmore, Pennsylvania is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 11 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 95%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read full report on Astrophysics at Swarthmore College

5

Out of the 46 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #5 spot on the list. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 49 students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% 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 89%.

Read full report on Astrophysics at University of California - Santa Cruz

6
Haverford crest
Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

Haverford College came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. This small school is located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees 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%. 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. With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Haverford Astrophysics Report

7
Wellesley crest
Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #7, Wellesley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astrophysical sciences students in 2021-2022.

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. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Wellesley Astrophysics Report

8
Williams crest
Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

Williams College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. Williams is a small school located in Williamstown, Massachusetts that handed out 5 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. 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 Astrophysics at Williams

9
Colgate crest
Colgate University
Hamilton, New York

Colgate University ranked #9 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Hamilton, New York is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 13 students 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. 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%.

Read more about Astrophysics at Colgate University

10
Franklin and Marshall crest
Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #10, Franklin and Marshall College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Franklin and Marshall is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 91%. 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%. 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.

Full Franklin and Marshall Astrophysics Report

11
Princeton crest
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #11. Princeton, New Jersey is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 6 students in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Full Princeton Astrophysics Report

12

California Institute of Technology landed the #12 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one.

Read more about Astrophysics at California Institute of Technology

13

With a ranking of #13, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. UC Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 46 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read full report on Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley

14
Barnard crest
Barnard College
New York, New York

With a ranking of #14, Barnard College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Barnard is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

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. 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 97%.

Full Barnard Astrophysics Report

15

With a ranking of #15, Ohio Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Ohio Wesleyan University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Delaware, Ohio. It awarded 5 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Ohio Wesleyan University

16

University of California - Los Angeles did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #16. This large school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 41 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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 Astrophysics at University of California - Los Angeles

17

Illinois Institute of Technology came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Chicago, Illinois, and it awarded 4 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.

Read full report on Astrophysics at Illinois Institute of Technology

18
Carnegie Mellon crest
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University ranked #18 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to 8 students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. 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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Full Carnegie Mellon Astrophysics Report

19

University of Wisconsin - Madison landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. University of Wisconsin - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 20 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astrophysics at UW - Madison

20
Lehigh crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Lehigh University did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #20. Located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school handed out 3 degrees to qualified bachelors’s astrophysical sciences students in 2021-2022.

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. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.4% 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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 94%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Lehigh University Astrophysics Report

21

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking, coming in at #21. UMN Twin Cities is a public institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 17 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 92%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read more about Astrophysics at UMN Twin Cities

22
Rice crest
Rice University
Houston, Texas

Rice University came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.

Read more about Astrophysics at Rice University

23

University of New Mexico - Main Campus landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. UNM is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.

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 University of New Mexico - Main Campus Astrophysics Report

24
Michigan State crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan

Michigan State University landed the #24 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major ranking. Michigan State University is located in East Lansing, Michigan and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 22 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 92%.

Read more about Astrophysics at Michigan State

25
Rutgers New Brunswick crest
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey

Rutgers University - New Brunswick ranked #25 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astrophysical Sciences Major list. Rutgers University - New Brunswick is a large school located in New Brunswick, New Jersey that handed out 10 bachelors’s astrophysical sciences degrees in 2021-2022.

With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.

Read more about Astrophysics at Rutgers New Brunswick

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options