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2023 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics

106 Ranked Colleges
967 Degrees Awarded
$29,129 Avg Salary
Schools for a Bachelor's Highly Focused on Astronomy Major

It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. At College Factual, we’re committed to helping you make that decision by providing information such as that found in our “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking.

Astronomy & Astrophysics is the 219th most popular major in the country with 1,396 degrees awarded in 2021-2022. 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.

At the bachelor’s degree level specifically, there were 967 astronomy & astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $39,724 and $23,030 respectively.

This year’s “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking looked at 106 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in astronomy & astrophysics. That schools that top this list have a program in astronomy & astrophysics in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

For more information, check out our ranking methodology.

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Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major” ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major

The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major”.

Top 25 Most Focused Bachelor’s Degree Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics

1
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Whitman College
Walla Walla, Washington

Out of the 106 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #1 spot on the list. Whitman is located in Walla Walla, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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.

Full Whitman Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

2
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Lycoming College
Williamsport, Pennsylvania

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Lycoming College. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Lycoming is located in Williamsport, Pennsylvania and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% 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 Lycoming College

3
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Agnes Scott College
Decatur, Georgia

Out of the 106 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Agnes Scott College landed the #3 spot on the list. Located in Decatur, Georgia, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 6 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.

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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Agnes Scott College

4
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Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

Out of the 106 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Swarthmore College landed the #4 spot on the list. Swarthmore is a small school located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania that handed out 11 bachelors’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. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Swarthmore College

5

Out of the 106 schools in the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major that were part of this year’s ranking, Florida Institute of Technology landed the #5 spot on the list. Florida Tech is a medium-sized school located in Melbourne, Florida that handed out 25 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

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 Tech

6
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Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania

With a ranking of #6, Haverford College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Haverford College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Haverford, Pennsylvania. The school has a small population, and it awarded 1 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 94%. 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 school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 0.9%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Haverford College

7

University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Santa Cruz, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 49 students in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz

8

California Institute of Technology did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #8. California Institute of Technology is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Pasadena, California. It awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 99%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 3 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Caltech

9
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Wellesley College
Wellesley, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #9, Wellesley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Wellesley, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.

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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%. 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.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wellesley College

10
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Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York

Vassar College ranked #10 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Vassar College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Poughkeepsie, New York. It awarded 7 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.

Full Vassar Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

11
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Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut

Wesleyan University landed the #11 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Wesleyan University is located in Middletown, Connecticut and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 8 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 95%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Wesleyan U

12
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Williams College
Williamstown, Massachusetts

Williams College came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. This small school is located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and it awarded 6 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 6 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Full Williams College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

13
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Colgate University
Hamilton, New York

Colgate University landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Located in Hamilton, New York, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 13 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 0.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 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 93%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Colgate

14

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach is a fairly large school located in Daytona Beach, Florida that handed out 20 bachelors’s astronomy 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%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach

15
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Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Amherst College came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Amherst College is located in Amherst, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.9% 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%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 98%. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 7 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools.

Full Amherst Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

16

University of Colorado Boulder did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #16. University of Colorado Boulder is a large school located in Boulder, Colorado that handed out 58 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.1% 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 CU - Boulder Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

17
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Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts

Mount Holyoke College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #17. Mount Holyoke College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in South Hadley, Massachusetts. It awarded 11 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Mount Holyoke College

18
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Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Franklin and Marshall College did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #18. Franklin and Marshall College is a small school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that handed out 4 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

With a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, it’s easy to see that the school is committed to helping their undergraduates succeed. 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%. With a freshman retention rate of 91%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Franklin and Marshall College

19
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Stonehill College
Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Stonehill College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Easton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 2 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 89%, 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 1.2%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Stonehill College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

20
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Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, Indiana

Valparaiso University landed the #20 spot on the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Valparaiso University is a small school located in Valparaiso, Indiana that handed out 1 bachelors’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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Valpo

21
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Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

Hampshire College ranked #21 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. Hampshire is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 0 bachelors’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Hampshire College

22

University of Hawaii at Hilo did quite well in the 2023 Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking, coming in at #22. Located in Hilo, Hawaii, this small public school awarded 3 diplomas to qualified bachelors’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.3% 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%.

Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UH Hilo

23
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Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University came in at #23 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Princeton University is located in Princeton, New Jersey and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 6 bachelors’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.

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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 96%.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Princeton University

24
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SUNY New Paltz
New Paltz, New York

SUNY New Paltz ranked #24 on this year’s Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major list. New Paltz, New York is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out bachelors’s astronomy degrees to 4 students 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%.

Full SUNY New Paltz Astronomy & Astrophysics Report

25
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Bennington College
Bennington, Vermont

Bennington College came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Schools for a Bachelor’s Highly Focused on Astronomy Major ranking. Bennington College is a private not-for-profit institution located in Bennington, Vermont. The school has a small population, and it awarded 0 bachelors’s degrees in 2021-2022.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.7% 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%. 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.

Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Bennington College

Notes and References

References

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