Astronomy degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their astronomy programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 115 schools to find the best for astronomy students.
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Choosing a Great Astronomy School
The school you choose for astronomy can shape your career. To help, we created our Best Astronomy Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Astronomy Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
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Best Schools for Astronomy in the United States
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the astronomy degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of Wisconsin Madison tops our 2026 ranking of the best astronomy schools. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. About 10 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of $45,783 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Wisconsin Madison
A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania State University Main Campus one of the top schools for astronomy. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. About 86% of students finish within six years. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 48 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in astronomy from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Cornell University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best astronomy schools. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cornell University awarded about 22 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $75,976 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,005.
Get the full astronomy details for Cornell University
University Of Chicago is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in astronomy, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Chicago graduates 96% of students within six years. University Of Chicago awarded about 32 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Chicago earn a median of $81,002 early in their careers. University Of Chicago graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans.
Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Chicago
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in astronomy, ranking #5. Set in the city of Ann Arbor, University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. There were roughly 24 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Michigan Ann Arbor in the most recent data year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Michigan Ann Arbor earn a median of $66,254 early in their careers. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor graduates carry a median of $19,137 in student loans.
Get the full astronomy details for University Of Michigan Ann Arbor
University Of Maryland College Park placed #6 among the best astronomy schools. Set in the suburb of College Park, University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public institution. About 89% of students finish within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 35 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $57,901 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $20,836 to complete this degree.
See the full astronomy program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Brigham Young University Provo landed the #7 spot for astronomy this year. Located in the city of Provo, Brigham Young University Provo is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 81% of students finish within six years. Brigham Young University Provo awarded about 18 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Brigham Young University Provo generally make around $54,507. Brigham Young University Provo graduates carry a median of $12,184 in student loans.
Read more about the astronomy program at Brigham Young University Provo
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign placed #8 among the best astronomy schools. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. About 24 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign in the most recent year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $57,461 in their early career. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans.
Get the full astronomy details for University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of Virginia Main Campus placed #9 among the best astronomy schools. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 35 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $69,126. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Washington Seattle Campus placed #10 among the best astronomy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Seattle. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. About 49 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Seattle Campus in the most recent year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $65,681 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,481 to complete this degree.
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Ohio State University Main Campus placed #11 among the best astronomy schools. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. About 26 astronomy degrees were awarded at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $58,088 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Colorado Boulder placed #12 among the best astronomy schools. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a very large public university. Roughly 74% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 62 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of Colorado Boulder in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Colorado Boulder generally make around $45,066. University Of Colorado Boulder graduates carry a median of $22,324 in student loans.
See the full astronomy program report for University Of Colorado Boulder
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #13 for astronomy this year. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. About 12 astronomy degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent year. Astronomy graduates of University Of California Santa Cruz earn a median of $35,171 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full astronomy program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #14 among the best astronomy schools. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Columbia University In The City Of New York graduates 96% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at Columbia University In The City Of New York in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from Columbia University In The City Of New York generally make around $86,770. Students borrow a median of $23,258 to complete this degree.
See the full astronomy program report for Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Georgia earned the #15 position for astronomy this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. University Of Georgia graduates 90% of students within six years. University Of Georgia awarded about 13 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $53,546 in their early career. University Of Georgia graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans.
See the full astronomy program report for University Of Georgia
University Of Florida earned the #16 position for astronomy this year. University Of Florida is a very large public school located in the city of Gainesville. About 91% of students finish within six years. University Of Florida awarded about 29 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Astronomy graduates of University Of Florida earn a median of $58,388 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,669.
More information about a degree in astronomy from University Of Florida
University Of Arizona landed the #17 spot for astronomy this year. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. University Of Arizona graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from University Of Arizona earn around $50,834 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans.
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University Of Massachusetts Amherst placed #18 among the best astronomy schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Amherst. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. There were roughly 17 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at University Of Massachusetts Amherst in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Amherst generally make around $53,543. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans.
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The University Of Texas At Austin came in at #19 for astronomy this year. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a very large public institution. The University Of Texas At Austin graduates 89% of students within six years. There were roughly 43 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at The University Of Texas At Austin in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, astronomy degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Austin generally make around $29,404. Students borrow a median of $25,250 to complete this degree.
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Boston University landed the #20 spot for astronomy this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. Boston University awarded about 25 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $63,598 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree.
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This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 115 schools evaluated.
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).
