2023 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Far Western US Region
29
Ranked Colleges
$35,800
Avg Cost*
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.
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.
Across the Far Western US region, there were 285 astronomy & astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $19,950 respectively.
For this year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region” ranking, we looked at 29 colleges that offer a degree in astronomy & astrophysics. This a ranking of the schools where the largest percentage of students has enrolled in astronomy & astrophysics.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
More Ways to Rank Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools
When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region” list to help you make the college decision.
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. Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.
Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region
The colleges and universities below are the best for far western us region astronomy students.
Top 29 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in the Far Western US Region
Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Whitman College landed the #1 spot on the list. Whitman College is located in Walla Walla, Washington and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 9 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
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 89%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Whitman College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend California Institute of Technology. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Caltech 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.
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. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at California Institute of Technology
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Santa Cruz. It ranked #3 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. This fairly large school is located in Santa Cruz, California, and it awarded 61 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Monterey Peninsula College. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Monterey, California, and it awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Monterey Peninsula College
Out of the 29 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #5 spot on the list. Located in Berkeley, California, this large public school awarded 56 degrees to qualified ’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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UC Berkeley
University of Hawaii at Hilo did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #6. University of Hawaii at Hilo is located in Hilo, Hawaii and, has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 3 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UH Hilo
With a ranking of #7, University of Hawaii at Manoa did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. UH Manoa is a fairly large school located in Honolulu, Hawaii that handed out 19 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.4% 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 University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Washington - Seattle Campus did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #8. Located in Seattle, Washington, this large public school awarded 38 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
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%. 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 UW Seattle
University of California - Los Angeles ranked #9 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Los Angeles, California, this large public school awarded 47 diplomas to qualified ’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%. With a freshman retention rate of 97%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students.
Full UCLA Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #10. San Diego State University is a large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 10 ’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%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year.
Full SDSU Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Santa Barbara City College ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this fairly large public school handed out 0 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full SBCC Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Nevada - Las Vegas ranked #12 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. UNLV is a public institution located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school has a large population, and it awarded 4 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at UNLV
Southwestern College landed the #13 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Chula Vista, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.2% 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 Southwestern College
Santiago Canyon College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. This fairly large school is located in Orange, California, and it awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Santiago Canyon College
With a ranking of #15, Orange Coast College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Orange Coast College is a fairly large school located in Costa Mesa, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Orange Coast College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Moorpark College landed the #16 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Moorpark College is a public institution located in Moorpark, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full Moorpark College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Saddleback College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Saddleback College is a fairly large school located in Mission Viejo, California that handed out 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Saddleback College
University of Southern California did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #18. USC is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
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 96%. 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%.
Full USC Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Hartnell College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. Hartnell College is a medium-sized school located in Salinas, California that handed out 2 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Hartnell College
With a ranking of #19, San Diego City College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. San Diego City College is a fairly large public school situated in San Diego, California. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Full San Diego City College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
University of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Fairbanks, Alaska, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Full UAF Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
El Camino College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. El Camino College is a public institution located in Torrance, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.0% 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 El Camino College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
MiraCosta College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. MiraCosta College is a fairly large school located in Oceanside, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.9%, 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 100%.
Full MiraCosta College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
San Bernardino Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large public school situated in San Bernardino, California. It awarded 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Bernardino Valley College
Palomar College landed the #19 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking. Palomar College is located in San Marcos, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Palomar College
Crafton Hills College ranked #19 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Crafton Hills College is a public institution located in Yucaipa, California. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Crafton Hills College
With a ranking of #19, Fullerton College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Fullerton College is a fairly large school located in Fullerton, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Fullerton College
With a ranking of #19, Irvine Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region list. Irvine Valley College is located in Irvine, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Irvine Valley College
Cabrillo College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in the Far Western US Region ranking, coming in at #19. Aptos, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 3 students in 2021-2022.
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%.
Full Cabrillo College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
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Notes and References
References
- 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).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
- *Avg Salary and Avg 4-Year Grad Rate are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
