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Astronomy

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#1 #1 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus is known for being a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 55% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,220–1,400 Est. Net Price * $26,747 Median Starting Salary $53,204
#2 #2 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA For students interested in applying to UVA, application packets should include none, but none are also... Acceptance Rate 19% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,410–1,530 Est. Net Price * $19,469 Median Starting Salary $54,057
#3 #3 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Florida Gainesville, FL the University of Florida is a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 23% Annual Degrees Awarded 17 SAT Score 1,310–1,480 Est. Net Price * $11,740 Median Starting Salary $48,925
#4 #4 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI the University of Wisconsin-Madison is a highly selective school. Acceptance Rate 49% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 1,270–1,460 Est. Net Price * $13,376 Median Starting Salary $57,440
#5 #5 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Wesleyan University Middletown, CT Generally, Wesleyan University is known for being a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 14% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,350–1,510 Est. Net Price * $21,270 Median Starting Salary $56,208
#6 #6 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA the University of California-Santa Cruz is known for being a highly selective school. Acceptance Rate 47% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,180–1,390 Est. Net Price * $17,975 Median Starting Salary $50,225
#7 #7 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Harvard University Cambridge, MA In 2016, Harvard received a record breaking amount of first year applications: 39,044. Acceptance Rate 3% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,500–1,590 Est. Net Price * $19,491 Median Starting Salary $45,413
#8 #8 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI the University of Hawaii at Manoa is known for being a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 73% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 990–1,210 Est. Net Price * $13,639 Median Starting Salary $51,958
#9 #9 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Overall, The University of Texas at Austin is a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 31% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,240–1,490 Est. Net Price * $17,434 Median Starting Salary $50,842
#10 #10 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. San Diego State University San Diego, CA San Diego State University is a highly selective school. They receive approximately 77,000 applications every... Acceptance Rate 39% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,100–1,320 Est. Net Price * $13,017 Median Starting Salary $49,978
#11 #11 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Generally, the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor is a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 18% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,370–1,530 Est. Net Price * $19,318 Median Starting Salary $52,021
#12 #12 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Boston University Boston, MA Boston University is a extremely selective school. Approximately 80,800 applications are received by Boston... Acceptance Rate 14% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,370–1,500 Est. Net Price * $27,829 Median Starting Salary $54,842
#13 #13 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Columbia University requires all freshman students to apply online, using either The Coalition Application... Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,500–1,570 Est. Net Price * $22,058 Median Starting Salary $44,723
#14 #14 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Cornell University Ithaca, NY Cornell University is known for being a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 7% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,470–1,570 Est. Net Price * $26,060 Median Starting Salary $52,939
#15 #15 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Northwestern University Evanston, IL Northwestern University is known for being a extremely selective school. Acceptance Rate 7% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,480–1,560 Est. Net Price * $22,095 Median Starting Salary $50,302
#16 #16 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Troy, NY Generally, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is known for being a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 65% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,370–1,520 Est. Net Price * $39,127 Median Starting Salary $55,040
#17 #17 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN Indiana University-Bloomington is known for being a somewhat selective school. Acceptance Rate 82% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,220–1,420 Est. Net Price * $16,234 Median Starting Salary $56,700
#18 #18 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Texas A&M University-College Station College Station, TX Texas A&M University-College Station is a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 63% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,170–1,400 Est. Net Price * $20,375 Median Starting Salary $52,575
#19 #19 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH Ohio State University-Main Campus is known for being a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 53% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,340–1,450 Est. Net Price * $19,582 Median Starting Salary $53,003
#20 #20 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Maryland-College Park College Park, MD the University of Maryland-College Park is known for being a highly selective school. Acceptance Rate 45% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,360–1,520 Est. Net Price * $16,210 Median Starting Salary $52,543
#21 #21 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, MA the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is a fairly selective school. Acceptance Rate 64% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,280–1,480 Est. Net Price * $22,291 Median Starting Salary $55,511
#22 #22 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Iowa Iowa City, IA the University of Iowa is known for being a non selective school. Acceptance Rate 86% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,120–1,320 Est. Net Price * $19,587 Median Starting Salary $56,402
#23 #23 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Arizona Tucson, AZ the University of Arizona is known for being a non selective school. Acceptance Rate 87% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,110–1,360 Est. Net Price * $17,075 Median Starting Salary $51,739
#24 #24 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Nevada-Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV Generally, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas is known for being a non selective school. Acceptance Rate 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 980–1,190 Est. Net Price * $13,159 Median Starting Salary $51,902
#25 #25 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. New Mexico State University-Main Campus Las Cruces, NM Overall, New Mexico State University-Main Campus is known for being a somewhat selective school. Acceptance Rate 78% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 920–1,140 Est. Net Price * $10,407 Median Starting Salary $50,549
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

About Astronomy

A general program that focuses on the planetary, galactic, and stellar phenomena occurring in outer space. Includes instruction in celestial mechanics, cosmology, stellar physics, galactic evolution, quasars, stellar distribution and motion, interstellar medium, atomic and molecular constituents of astronomical phenomena, planetary science, solar system evolution, and specific methodologies such as optical astronomy, radioastronomy, and theoretical astronomy.

While Astronomy offers degrees up to the Post masters certificate, the majority of students earn a Bachelors degree. Students major in Astronomy all over the country, though the major at the Masters degree level sees the most graduates in Florida. The average starting salary for a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Astronomy is $51,867.

Popularity of Astronomy Degrees in the U.S.

This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Astronomy degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.

Less Popular

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Careers

Some top careers related to Astronomy, include Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Astronomers, both of which have many employment opportunities. Though there are careers that pay more, such as Astronomers. the most in-demand position for Astronomy majors is Natural Sciences Managers.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Astronomy majors.

Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Astronomy majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

104

Female Students

44 (42%)

Male Students

60 (57%)

Resources for:

Astronomy

#1 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

55%

2

1,220–1,400

$26,747

$53,204

#2 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

19%

11

1,410–1,530

$19,469

$54,057

#3 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

23%

17

1,310–1,480

$11,740

$48,925

#4 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

49%

10

1,270–1,460

$13,376

$57,440

#5 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

14%

2

1,350–1,510

$21,270

$56,208

#6 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

47%

4

1,180–1,390

$17,975

$50,225

#7 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

3%

6

1,500–1,590

$19,491

$45,413

#8 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

73%

6

990–1,210

$13,639

$51,958

#9 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

31%

6

1,240–1,490

$17,434

$50,842

#10 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

39%

6

1,100–1,320

$13,017

$49,978

#11 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

18%

5

1,370–1,530

$19,318

$52,021

#12 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

14%

5

1,370–1,500

$27,829

$54,842

#13 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.

4%

3

1,500–1,570

$22,058

$44,723

#14 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S.