2026 Best Astronomy Schools in the New England Region

Astronomy is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for astronomy students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Astronomy Schools in the New England Region

Best Schools for Astronomy in the New England Region

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.

Top Schools in Astronomy

1

University Of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Astronomy Degrees Awarded

$53,543 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of Massachusetts Amherst, our #1 school for astronomy. Located in the city of Amherst, University Of Massachusetts Amherst is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 83%. University Of Massachusetts Amherst awarded about 17 astronomy degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their astronomy degree from University Of Massachusetts Amherst earn around $53,543 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Massachusetts Amherst graduates carry a median of $25,234 in student loans. Read more about the astronomy program at University Of Massachusetts Amherst

2

Boston University
Boston, MA

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

25 Astronomy Degrees Awarded

$63,598 Median Starting Salary

Students looking for a strong astronomy program will find one at Boston University, which ranked #2. Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 25 astronomy students who graduated with this degree at Boston University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the astronomy program make about $63,598 in their early career. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans. See the full astronomy program report for Boston University

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 16 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).

More about our data sources and methodologies.