2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in California

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

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 California, there were 153 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $14,817 respectively. At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 14 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $60,281 and $50,119 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking looked at 4 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy and astrophysics. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent astronomy and astrophysics programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the astronomy and astrophysics program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The astronomy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 4 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in California

#1

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Los Angeles landed the #1 spot on the list. UCLA is a large public school situated in Los Angeles, California. It awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UCLA also took the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UCLA Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#2

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

#4 in overall quality

$18,658 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. This large school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #4. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Diego State University

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

#2 in overall quality

$29,347 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #3 spot on the list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 4 students in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley

#4

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#3 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s in California For Those Making $0-$30k. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Santa Cruz also took the #3 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Santa Cruz

• Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $0-$30k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Master’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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