2023 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
151
Ranked Colleges
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When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.
In 2021-2022, 1,396 people earned their degree in astronomy & astrophysics, making the major the 219th most popular in the United States. In , astronomy & astrophysics graduates who were awarded their degree in , earned an average of $29,129 and had an average of $23,581 in loans still to pay off.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking looked at 151 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy & astrophysics. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in astronomy & astrophysics.
For more information, check out our ranking methodology.
More Ways to Rank Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
The astronomy school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major”.
To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major”.
Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Whitman College. It ranked #1 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Located in Walla Walla, Washington, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 9 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Whitman College
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Technology. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major. California Institute of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution located in Pasadena, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 24 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Caltech
Out of the 151 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Lycoming College landed the #3 spot on the list. This small school is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 9 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Lycoming College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Agnes Scott College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Agnes Scott College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Decatur, Georgia. It awarded 6 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Agnes Scott College
Out of the 151 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Princeton University landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, this medium-sized private not-for-profit school awarded 30 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Princeton
With a ranking of #6, University of California - Santa Cruz did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Located in Santa Cruz, California, this fairly large public school handed out 61 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.3% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz
With a ranking of #7, Florida Institute of Technology did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Florida Tech is located in Melbourne, Florida and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 41 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Florida Institute of Technology
With a ranking of #8, Swarthmore College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Swarthmore is a small school located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania that handed out 11 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.
Full Swarthmore College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Haverford College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Located in Haverford, Pennsylvania, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 94%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Haverford College
Monterey Peninsula College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Monterey, California, and it awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Monterey Peninsula College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Wellesley College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Wellesley College is a small school located in Wellesley, Massachusetts that handed out 10 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wellesley
With a ranking of #12, Wesleyan University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Wesleyan University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Middletown, Connecticut. The school has a small population, and it awarded 5 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wesleyan U
With a ranking of #13, University of Colorado Boulder did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. University of Colorado Boulder is a public institution located in Boulder, Colorado. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%.
Full CU - Boulder Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Vassar College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #14. Vassar College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Poughkeepsie, New York. It awarded 7 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 8 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.
Full Vassar Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Williams College ranked #15 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Williams is a small school located in Williamstown, Massachusetts that handed out 6 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Williams
Colgate University ranked #16 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Colgate University is a small school located in Hamilton, New York that handed out 13 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 93%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Colgate University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #17. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a fairly large private not-for-profit school situated in Daytona Beach, Florida. It awarded 20 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach
Amherst College came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Amherst is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 98%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Amherst
Mount Holyoke College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #19. Located in South Hadley, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 11 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full Mt. Holyoke Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Franklin and Marshall College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Franklin and Marshall College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 91%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Franklin and Marshall College
Stonehill College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #21. Stonehill College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Easton, Massachusetts. It awarded 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.2% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Stonehill College
Valparaiso University landed the #22 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Located in Valparaiso, Indiana, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 1 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Valpo
University of California - Berkeley landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. UC Berkeley is a public institution located in Berkeley, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 56 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 0.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley
Hampshire College came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Amherst, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.1% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.
Full Hampshire Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Chicago did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #25. UChicago is a private not-for-profit institution located in Chicago, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 30 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 5 to 1 is a sign that students will have more opportunities to engage with their professors one-on-one. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UChicago
