2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” 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 California, there were 153 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $14,817 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 15 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking, we looked at 4 colleges that offer a degree in astronomy and astrophysics. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great astronomy and astrophysics programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the astronomy and astrophysics program at the school. For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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 California For Those Making $30-$48k” 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. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 4 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $30-$48k) in California

#1

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, California

#1 in overall quality

$56,649 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Pasadena, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 7 degrees to qualified doctorate’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Caltech also took the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Caltech are $56,649, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Caltech

#2

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

#2 in overall quality

$28,131 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

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 Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 doctorate’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCLA has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCLA Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#3

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

#3 in overall quality

$29,347 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s astronomy degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Berkeley, the school also landed the #3 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Berkeley Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#4

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

#4 in overall quality

$28,952 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

Out of the 4 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #4 spot on the list. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 4 doctorate’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UC Santa Cruz, the school also landed the #4 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UC Santa Cruz Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $30-$48k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $30-$48k)

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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