2026 Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy & astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Arizona the best value for a degree in astronomy & astrophysics in the Southwest Region. 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, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $25,406. Early-career astronomy & astrophysics graduates make about $50,834. Set against $25,406 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at The University Of Texas At Austin earned it the #2 place for astronomy & astrophysics. The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public school located in the city of Austin. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,688, compared with $44,908 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for astronomy & astrophysics graduates is $25,250. Astronomy & Astrophysics graduates of The University Of Texas At Austin earn a median of $29,404 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,250 median debt. The acceptance rate is 27%.
Narrow Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools by State
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
