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2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

34 Ranked Colleges
195 Degrees Awarded
$35,900 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master's For Those Making $30-$48k

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. 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 For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Astronomy & Astrophysics is the 222nd most popular major in the country with 1,268 degrees awarded in 2019-2020. 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.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 195 astronomy and astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered 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. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k” list to help you make the college decision.

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.

Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics (Income $30-$48k)

#1

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#7 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 1 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

MIT not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at MIT are $56,719.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

#2

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#3 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k. This large school is located in Evanston, Illinois, and it awarded 5 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, Northwestern has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567.

Full Northwestern Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#3

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Harvard University landed the #3 spot on the list. Harvard is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It awarded 13 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Harvard, the school also landed the #2 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Harvard Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#1 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Columbia University in the City of New York landed the #4 spot on the list. Located in New York, New York, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 5 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Columbia, the school also landed the #1 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Columbia 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

#5

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey
#4 in overall quality

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #5 spot on the list. Princeton is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 15 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Princeton not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton University are $56,470.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Princeton

#6

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#5 in overall quality

Cornell University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Ithaca, New York, and it awarded 13 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. 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 Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#9 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW - Madison is a large school located in Madison, Wisconsin that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UW - Madison are $25,523.

Full UW - Madison Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#12 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Ann Arbor, Michigan 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.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, U-M has also earned the #12 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor are $49,548, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full U-M Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#9

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#16 in overall quality

With a ranking of #9, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. UMN Twin Cities is a large school located in Minneapolis, Minnesota that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UMN Twin Cities, the school also landed the #16 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities are $28,845, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UMN Twin Cities

#10

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#14 in overall quality

University of Virginia - Main Campus did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #10. University of Virginia is a public institution located in Charlottesville, Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

University of Virginia also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #14. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Virginia are $32,394, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Virginia - Main Campus

#11

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#10 in overall quality

With a ranking of #11, University of California - Los Angeles did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, UCLA has also earned the #10 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of California - Los Angeles are $28,131, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Los Angeles

#12

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona
#8 in overall quality

University of Arizona came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Tucson, Arizona, this large public school handed out 18 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

University of Arizona also took the #8 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Arizona are $33,399.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Arizona

#18 in overall quality

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #13. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a public institution located in Champaign, Illinois. The school has a large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIUC, the school also landed the #18 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UIUC are $30,083.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

#20 in overall quality

University of Washington - Seattle Campus came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UW Seattle is a public institution located in Seattle, Washington. The school has a large population, and it awarded 11 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UW Seattle, the school also landed the #20 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Washington - Seattle Campus are $30,294, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UW Seattle

#15

Boston University

Boston, Massachusetts
#6 in overall quality

Boston University came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, this large private not-for-profit school awarded 12 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

Boston U also made our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #6. Average graduate tuition and fees at Boston U are $57,666, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Boston University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#16

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#13 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. Located in College Park, Maryland, this large public school awarded 9 diplomas to qualified masters’s astronomy students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree astronomy students whose families make $30-$48k list, UMCP has also earned the #13 rank in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UMCP are $30,885, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of Maryland - College Park

#19 in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, Ohio State University - Main Campus did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Columbus, Ohio, and it awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Ohio State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State are $37,141.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Ohio State University - Main Campus

#18

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#22 in overall quality

Indiana University - Bloomington ranked #18 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. IU Bloomington is located in Bloomington, Indiana and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 2 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at IU Bloomington, the school also landed the #22 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Indiana University - Bloomington

#19

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#17 in overall quality

With a ranking of #19, University of California - Berkeley did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 4 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

UC Berkeley also took the #17 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Berkeley

#20

San Diego State University

San Diego, California

San Diego State University ranked #20 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. San Diego State University is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Diego State University

#21

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado
#15 in overall quality

University of Colorado Boulder landed the #21 spot on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 14 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CU - Boulder did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #15 on our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Colorado Boulder are $32,980.

Full University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

#22

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
#25 in overall quality

Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking, coming in at #22. Texas A&M College Station is located in College Station, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 masters’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

Texas A&M College Station also took the #25 spot in our “Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M University - College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Texas A&M University - College Station Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #23 on this year’s Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Las Vegas, Nevada is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s astronomy degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UNLV are $21,962, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UNLV

#24

University of California - Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a fairly large school located in Santa Cruz, California that handed out 3 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Santa Cruz are $28,952, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full University of California - Santa Cruz Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

With a ranking of #25, Iowa State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Astronomy Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $30-$48k list. Iowa State University is a large public school situated in Ames, Iowa. It awarded 1 masters’s astronomy degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Iowa State University are $25,948, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Iowa State University Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

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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