Best Astronomy Programs in the United States (2026)
Updated
Part of Best Physical Sciences Colleges in the United States
This page ranks the 5 Astronomy programs in the United States by median earnings of Astronomy graduates four years after completing, highest first. University of California-Berkeley leads with $90,943, and the figures across the list span from $90,943 to $26,353, with a median of $66,759.
For 1 of the 5 listed programs the earnings figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one.
All 5 schools are 5 public institutions. University of California-Berkeley posts the lowest average net price at $13,481, and it ranks 4th on Azimuth's composite ranking among nonprofit four-year institutions.
University of Colorado Boulder has the highest admission rate on the list, admitting 78% of applicants.
The ranked list
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA | $90,943 | $13,481 | $5,311 | 11.0% |
| University of California-Berkeley reports $90,943 in median earnings for its Astronomy graduates four years after completing, and carries an average net price of $13,481. | |||||
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder · Boulder, CO | $72,698 | $25,346 | $14,231 | 78.1% |
| With an admission rate of 78%, University of Colorado Boulder shows median earnings of $72,698 for its Astronomy graduates four years after completing. | |||||
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus · University Park, PA | $66,759 | $32,875 | $19,845 | 60.6% |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus ranks 3rd on this list, with median earnings of $66,759 for its Astronomy graduates four years after completing and a cohort of 28 graduates in the earnings cohort. | |||||
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin · Austin, TX | $65,987 | $19,857 | $12,553 | 26.6% |
| Graduates of The University of Texas at Austin across all fields who borrowed left with a median of $20,500 in federal loans, while its Astronomy graduates earned a median of $65,987 four years after completing. | |||||
| 5 | University of Wisconsin-Madison · Madison, WI | $26,353 | $17,354 | $4,200 | 45.2% |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison posts an average net price of $4,200 for families earning under $30,000, and its Astronomy graduates earned a median of $26,353 four years after completing. | |||||
How this list is ordered
Programs are ordered by the median earnings of their Astronomy graduates four years after completing, highest first. Only programs with a reported earnings cohort in the United States appear. The figure reflects federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled four years after graduating. For 1 of the 5 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The gap between first-ranked University of California-Berkeley and second-ranked University of Colorado Boulder is $18,245.
Related rankings
- Best Physical Sciences Colleges in the United States
- Physical Sciences Colleges for Social Mobility