2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Massachusetts
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 13 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools.
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2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
Harvard University earned the #1 spot for value among astronomy & astrophysics schools in Massachusetts. Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cambridge. Students from in state pay about $61,676 in tuition and fees. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $95,207. Set against $16,616 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy & astrophysics schools. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,772, compared with $40,449 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,234 to complete the astronomy & astrophysics program here. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Set against $25,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #3 place for astronomy & astrophysics. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,102. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $25,232. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of Boston University earn a median of $63,598 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 11%.
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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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
