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2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in New York

[Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astronomy/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astronomy education at a price that pays off.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 8 schools to find the best return on investment for astronomy students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Astronomy Schools in New York

2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astronomy, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Astronomy Schools

1

Columbia University In The City Of New York
New York, NY

$70,517 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,258 Avg Student Debt

$102,491 Median Earnings (10yr)

Columbia University In The City Of New York tops our 2026 list of the best value astronomy schools in New York. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Astronomy graduates carry a median of $23,258 in student loans. Astronomy graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $86,770 early in their careers. Set against $23,258 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.

2

Cornell University
Ithaca, NY

$69,314 In-State Tuition & Fees

$15,005 Avg Student Debt

$104,043 Median Earnings (10yr)

Cornell University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Astronomy graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Astronomy graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 9% of applicants are accepted.

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Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 ranked schools only.

• 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.