2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
Our analysis ranked Princeton University the best value for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics in the United States. Located in the city of Princeton, Princeton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $62,688. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $10,888 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from Princeton University generally make around $67,532. Set against $10,888 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Princeton University admits about 5% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in astronomy & astrophysics will find it at University Of Florida, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Florida generally make around $58,388. Set against $17,669 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted.
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,233, while out-of-state students pay about $46,121. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $16,097. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $63,833. Set against $16,097 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
University Of California Berkeley came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,377, compared with $47,265 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $19,500. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of California Berkeley earn a median of $54,746 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,500 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Washington Seattle Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Washington Seattle Campus earn a median of $65,681 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Brigham Young University Provo placed #6 among the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Provo. Students from in state pay about $6,688 in tuition and fees. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of Brigham Young University Provo earn a median of $54,507 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. Students from in state pay about $18,848 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $63,081. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $19,137. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $66,254. Set against $19,137 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor admits about 16% of applicants.
University Of Maryland College Park earned the #8 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,809, compared with $41,186 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $57,901. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Maryland College Park admits about 45% of applicants.
University Of Georgia landed the #9 spot for astronomy & astrophysics value this year. University Of Georgia is a very large public school located in the city of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $21,792. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $53,546. That is a strong return on a $21,792 median debt. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #10 among the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, compared with $40,096 for out-of-state students. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #11 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,603, while out-of-state students pay about $42,103. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $45,783 early in their careers. Set against $19,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 45%.
Harvard University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona placed #13 among the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $25,406. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $50,834 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,406 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
University Of California Santa Cruz ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,035, with out-of-state students paying around $46,923. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $35,171 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned the #15 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $17,214, compared with $38,362 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $21,577. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $56,395 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #16 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,244 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,022. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $20,500. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $58,088. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ohio State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
University Of Chicago earned the #17 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $69,324. Students borrow a median of $15,854 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $81,002. Set against $15,854 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #18 for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $23,258. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Columbia University In The City Of New York admits about 4% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Austin landed the #19 spot for astronomy & astrophysics value this year. Located in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $29,404. Set against $25,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The University Of Texas At Austin admits about 27% of applicants.
University Of Colorado Boulder came in at #20 for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,214, while out-of-state students pay about $42,970. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $22,324. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $45,066. Set against $22,324 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
College Of Charleston landed the #21 spot for astronomy & astrophysics value this year. College Of Charleston is a large public school located in the city of Charleston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,978, compared with $38,296 for out-of-state students. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $24,733 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from College Of Charleston generally make around $40,222. That is a strong return on a $24,733 median debt. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Michigan State University earned the #22 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $33,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 85%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $23,118 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Students borrow a median of $18,627 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $69,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Virginia Main Campus admits about 17% of applicants.
Rutgers University New Brunswick ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Set in the city of New Brunswick, Rutgers University New Brunswick is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $17,929 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,441 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $27,000. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $58,402. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst earned the #25 position for value in astronomy & astrophysics this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for astronomy & astrophysics this year:
Other Astronomy & Astrophysics Degree Levels
Explore the best-value astronomy & astrophysics schools at other degree levels:
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 163 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 ranked schools only.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
