2023 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in California
23
Ranked Colleges
$38,800
Avg Cost*
When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.
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.
Across California, there were 212 astronomy & astrophysics graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $19,950 respectively.
This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California” ranking analyzed 23 colleges that offered a degree in astronomy & astrophysics. The colleges and universities that top this list are recognized because their astronomy & astrophysics program is one of the largest majors offered at the school.
See our ranking methodology to learn more.
One Size Does Not Fit All
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 in California”.
In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest 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 in California
The following schools top our list of the Best “Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California”.
Top 23 Most Focused Colleges for Astronomy & Astrophysics in California
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the #1 spot on the list. 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.
Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 99%. 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.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Caltech
Out of the 23 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Santa Cruz landed the #2 spot on the list. UC Santa Cruz is a public institution located in Santa Cruz, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 61 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 89%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.3%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Santa Cruz
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Monterey Peninsula College. The school came in at #3 for the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California. Monterey Peninsula College is located in Monterey, California and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 4 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Monterey Peninsula College
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Berkeley, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 56 students in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 96%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. 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%.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Los Angeles. It ranked #5 on our 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. UCLA is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 47 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 97%, 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 University of California - Los Angeles
San Diego State University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #6. San Diego, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 10 students in 2021-2022.
The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 90%, 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%.
Full SDSU Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Santa Barbara City College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #7. SBCC is a fairly large public school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees 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%.
Read more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at SBCC
Southwestern College ranked #8 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Located in Chula Vista, California, this fairly large public school awarded 0 degrees to qualified ’s astronomy 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at Southwestern College
Santiago Canyon College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. Orange, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 1 students in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Santiago Canyon College
Orange Coast College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. This fairly large school is located in Costa Mesa, California, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.8% 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 full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Orange Coast College
Moorpark College came in at #11 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. Located in Moorpark, 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 2.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full Moorpark College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #12, Saddleback College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Saddleback College is a fairly large school located in Mission Viejo, California that handed out 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.4% 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%.
Full Saddleback College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #13, University of Southern California did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. University of Southern California is a large school located in Los Angeles, California that handed out 1 ’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 96%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. 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 more about Astronomy & Astrophysics at USC
San Diego City College landed the #14 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. San Diego City College is a fairly large school located in San Diego, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Full San Diego City College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Fullerton College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Fullerton College is located in Fullerton, California and, has a fairly large student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees to qualified students.
Full Fullerton College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
San Bernardino Valley College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking, coming in at #14. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large school located in San Bernardino, California that handed out 1 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at San Bernardino Valley College
Hartnell College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. Located in Salinas, California, this medium-sized public school awarded 2 diplomas to qualified ’s astronomy students in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Hartnell College
With a ranking of #14, Irvine Valley College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. This fairly large school is located in Irvine, California, and it awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at Irvine Valley College
Cabrillo College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. 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 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 Cabrillo College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Palomar College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. Palomar College is a fairly large public school situated in San Marcos, California. It awarded 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
Full Palomar College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
With a ranking of #14, MiraCosta College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. MiraCosta College is a public institution located in Oceanside, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 0 ’s degrees in 2021-2022.
With a freshman retention rate of 100%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.9% 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%.
Full MiraCosta College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
El Camino College ranked #14 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California list. El Camino College is a fairly large school located in Torrance, California that handed out 0 ’s astronomy degrees in 2021-2022.
The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.
Full El Camino College Astronomy & Astrophysics Report
Crafton Hills College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Astronomy Major in California ranking. Yucaipa, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s astronomy degrees to 0 students in 2021-2022.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at CHC
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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.
