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2026 Best Value Astronomy Schools in the New England Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the astronomy degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Astronomy Schools
Harvard University earned the #1 spot for value among astronomy schools in the New England Region. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $61,676. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $16,616. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Harvard University generally make around $95,207. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a great value for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public school located in the city of Amherst. Students from in state pay about $17,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $40,449. Astronomy graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Astronomy graduates of University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn a median of $53,543 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Yale University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value astronomy schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Yale University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,250. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $14,357. Astronomy graduates of Yale University earn a median of $74,578 early in their careers. Set against $14,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Students looking for strong value in astronomy will find it at Boston University, which ranked #4. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $68,102 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for astronomy graduates is $25,232. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $63,598. That is a strong return on a $25,232 median debt. Roughly 11% of applicants are accepted.
Narrow Astronomy Schools by State
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 · 16 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.
ADBLOCK #116
[Astronomy](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astronomy/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astronomy education at a price that pays off.
