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2026 Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduates

[Astronomy And Astrophysics](/majors/physical-sciences/astronomy-and-astrophysics/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a astronomy and astrophysics degree into the strongest early-career earnings.

College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying astronomy and astrophysics schools.

What’s on this page:

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• Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Schools List
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Finding the Highest Paying Astronomy And Astrophysics School for You

Where you study astronomy and astrophysics affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we developed our Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its astronomy and astrophysics graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.

See how we build our rankings

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduates 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.

Learn more about our methodology

2026 Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Grads in the United States

Below are the schools whose astronomy and astrophysics graduates go on to earn the most.

Highest Paid Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduates

1

University Of California Berkeley
Berkeley, CA

$54,746 Average Early-Career Salary

For graduate earnings in astronomy and astrophysics, no school beat University Of California Berkeley this year. Set in the city of Berkeley, University Of California Berkeley is a public institution. After graduating, astronomy and astrophysics degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley typically earn about $54,746 annually.

2

University Of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO

$62,122 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in astronomy and astrophysics will find them at University Of Colorado Boulder, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Boulder, University Of Colorado Boulder is a public institution. Students who complete the astronomy and astrophysics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $62,122.

3

University Of Wisconsin Madison
Madison, WI

$45,783 Average Early-Career Salary

University Of Wisconsin Madison came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying astronomy and astrophysics schools. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. Astronomy And Astrophysics graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $45,783 a year early in their careers.

4

University Of California Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA

$35,171 Average Early-Career Salary

A rank of #4 makes University Of California Santa Cruz one of the highest-paying schools for astronomy and astrophysics. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a public institution. After graduating, astronomy and astrophysics degree recipients from University Of California Santa Cruz typically earn about $35,171 annually.

5

Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI

$33,373 Average Early-Career Salary

Students chasing top earnings in astronomy and astrophysics will find them at Michigan State University, which ranked #5. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Students who complete the astronomy and astrophysics program here go on to a median salary of roughly $33,373.

6

The University Of Texas At Austin
Austin, TX

$29,404 Average Early-Career Salary

The University Of Texas At Austin ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying astronomy and astrophysics schools. Set in the city of Austin, The University Of Texas At Austin is a public institution. Early-career astronomy and astrophysics graduates from The University Of Texas At Austin make a median of around $29,404 per year.

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their astronomy and astrophysics graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).

Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 6 schools evaluated.

*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.

• 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.
• Graduate earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard) field-of-study earnings.

More about our data sources and methodologies.