2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in Florida
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
For return on investment in astronomy & astrophysics, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Located in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,381, while out-of-state students pay about $28,659. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $58,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 24%.
Students looking for strong value in astronomy & astrophysics will find it at Florida Institute Of Technology, which ranked #2. Florida Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. Students from in state pay about $45,900 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $32,114. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $69,878. Set against $32,114 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy & astrophysics, landing the #3 spot this year. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Daytona Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,074. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, astronomy & astrophysics degree recipients from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach generally make around $70,246. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 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.
[Astronomy & Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
