2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in Illinois
[Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/astrophysics/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong astrophysics education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 3 schools to find the best return on investment for astrophysics students.
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2026 Best Value Astrophysics Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in astrophysics, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Astrophysics Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign the best value for a degree in astrophysics in Illinois. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a very large public school located in the city of Champaign. In-state tuition and fees average $18,267, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Typical student debt for astrophysics graduates is $20,778. Astrophysics graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of $57,461 early in their careers. Set against $20,778 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign admits about 42% of applicants.
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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 · 3 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
