2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

Students have lots of options to chooose from today when trying to decide which college to attend. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 1,268 people earned their degree in astronomy and astrophysics, making the major the 222nd most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, astronomy and astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $27,700 and had an average of $21,346 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Middle Atlantic region, there were 203 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 19 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $73,944 and $116,843 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 5 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy and astrophysics. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality astronomy and astrophysics programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the astronomy and astrophysics program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

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. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 5 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in the Middle Atlantic Region

#1

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

#2 in overall quality

$56,470 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Princeton University. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 7 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Princeton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Princeton University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#2

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York

#3 in overall quality

$30,042 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Cornell University. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ithaca, New York is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s astronomy degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

Cornell also took the #3 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042.

Full Cornell University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#3

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York

#1 in overall quality

$51,194 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Columbia University in the City of New York. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. Columbia is a private not-for-profit institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Columbia also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list, coming in at #1. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia University in the City of New York are $51,194, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Columbia University in the City of New York

#4

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland

#5 in overall quality

$30,885 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Maryland - College Park. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k list. UMCP is a large school located in College Park, Maryland that handed out 1 doctorate’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our middle atlantic region doctor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $0-$30k list, UMCP has also earned the #5 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UMCP

#5

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, New York

#5 in overall quality

$50,442 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Rochester Institute of Technology. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in the Middle Atlantic Region For Those Making $0-$30k. RIT is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Rochester, New York. It awarded 3 doctorate’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

RIT did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at RIT are $50,442, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Rochester Institute of Technology

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k)

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

Footnotes

• *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.

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