Physical sciences ยท bachelor's degree
Astronomy major: colleges and pay
101 colleges in our data award bachelor's degrees in astronomy, 1,096 of them in 2023-24. Graduates of the typical program earned $44,930 a year after graduating and $69,728 four years after.
Colleges offering it101
Graduates in 2023-241,096
Typical median debt$19,500
Typical earnings 1 yr after$44,930
Typical earnings 4 yrs after$69,728
Earnings to debt2.3x
Official field name: Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Colleges where astronomy graduates earn the most
Programs with at least 10 graduates in 2023-24, ranked by median earnings four years after graduation.
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 51 | $43,091 | $90,943 | $18,600 |
| University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO | 63 | $44,591 | $72,698 | $19,108 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 33 | n/a | $66,759 | $27,000 |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 27 | $55,754 | $65,987 | n/a |
Largest astronomy programs
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO | 63 | $44,591 | $72,698 | $19,108 |
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 51 | $43,091 | $90,943 | $18,600 |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 41 | n/a | n/a | $19,370 |
| University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA | 36 | n/a | n/a | $17,273 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 33 | n/a | $66,759 | $27,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 33 | $42,730 | n/a | $19,882 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 31 | $32,967 | n/a | $19,500 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 30 | $41,394 | n/a | $18,538 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 30 | n/a | n/a | $18,579 |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 28 | n/a | n/a | $10,515 |
| University of FloridaGainesville, FL | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 27 | $55,754 | $65,987 | n/a |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL | 27 | $56,059 | n/a | $24,250 |
| Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FL | 27 | $45,268 | n/a | $27,000 |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Graduate degrees in astronomy
Master's: 44 programs; Doctoral: 47 programs. Compare graduate programs.
Every college with a astronomy major
| College | Graduates (2023-24) | Earnings 1 yr after | Earnings 4 yrs after | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley, CA | 51 | $43,091 | $90,943 | $18,600 |
| University of Colorado BoulderBoulder, CO | 63 | $44,591 | $72,698 | $19,108 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusUniversity Park, PA | 33 | n/a | $66,759 | $27,000 |
| The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX | 27 | $55,754 | $65,987 | n/a |
| University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMinneapolis, MN | 26 | $56,691 | n/a | $19,500 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachDaytona Beach, FL | 27 | $56,059 | n/a | $24,250 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottPrescott, AZ | 6 | $56,059 | n/a | $24,250 |
| Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne, FL | 27 | $45,268 | n/a | $27,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison, WI | 33 | $42,730 | n/a | $19,882 |
| Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing, MI | 30 | $41,394 | n/a | $18,538 |
| Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus, OH | 31 | $32,967 | n/a | $19,500 |
| Agnes Scott CollegeDecatur, GA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Amherst CollegeAmherst, MA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdale, AZ | 26 | n/a | n/a | $23,275 |
| Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Barnard CollegeNew York, NY | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Baylor UniversityWaco, TX | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Benedictine CollegeAtchison, KS | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bennington CollegeBennington, VT | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Boston UniversityBoston, MA | 15 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brigham Young UniversityProvo, UT | 17 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Brown UniversityProvidence, RI | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Bryn Mawr CollegeBryn Mawr, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Butler UniversityIndianapolis, IN | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Carnegie Mellon UniversityPittsburgh, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OH | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Central Michigan UniversityMount Pleasant, MI | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Colgate UniversityHamilton, NY | 9 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| College of CharlestonCharleston, SC | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew York, NY | 27 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dartmouth CollegeHanover, NH | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| DePaul UniversityChicago, IL | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Drake UniversityDes Moines, IA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Emory UniversityAtlanta, GA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Franklin and Marshall CollegeLancaster, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| George Mason UniversityFairfax, VA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Hampshire CollegeAmherst, MA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Harvard UniversityCambridge, MA | 20 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Haverford CollegeHaverford, PA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Illinois Institute of TechnologyChicago, IL | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Indiana University-BloomingtonBloomington, IN | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lehigh UniversityBethlehem, PA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Lycoming CollegeWilliamsport, PA | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Marietta CollegeMarietta, OH | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Montana State UniversityBozeman, MT | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley, MA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaff, AZ | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Oglethorpe UniversityAtlanta, GA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio University-Main CampusAthens, OH | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelaware, OH | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ | 10 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rice UniversityHouston, TX | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Rutgers University-New BrunswickNew Brunswick, NJ | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| San Diego State UniversitySan Diego, CA | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Siena UniversityLoudonville, NY | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Smith CollegeNorthampton, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| State University of New York at New PaltzNew Paltz, NY | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stonehill CollegeEaston, MA | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Stony Brook UniversityStony Brook, NY | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore, PA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Texas Christian UniversityFort Worth, TX | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Tufts UniversityMedford, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Union CollegeSchenectady, NY | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ArizonaTucson, AZ | 24 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of California-Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | 28 | n/a | n/a | $10,515 |
| University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz, CA | 36 | n/a | n/a | $17,273 |
| University of ChicagoChicago, IL | 26 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Cincinnati-Main CampusCincinnati, OH | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of DelawareNewark, DE | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of FloridaGainesville, FL | 28 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of GeorgiaAthens, GA | 13 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Hawaii at HiloHilo, HI | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Hawaii at ManoaHonolulu, HI | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignChampaign, IL | 30 | n/a | n/a | $18,579 |
| University of IowaIowa City, IA | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of KansasLawrence, KS | 7 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park, MD | 23 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Massachusetts-AmherstAmherst, MA | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Michigan-Ann ArborAnn Arbor, MI | 21 | n/a | n/a | $20,500 |
| University of New Mexico-Main CampusAlbuquerque, NM | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusNorman, OK | 6 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPittsburgh, PA | 0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of ToledoToledo, OH | 1 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Virginia-Main CampusCharlottesville, VA | 22 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| University of Washington-Seattle CampusSeattle, WA | 41 | n/a | n/a | $19,370 |
| University of WyomingLaramie, WY | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Valdosta State UniversityValdosta, GA | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Valparaiso UniversityValparaiso, IN | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Vassar CollegePoughkeepsie, NY | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Villanova UniversityVillanova, PA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Washington University in St LouisSt. Louis, MO | 4 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | 3 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wellesley CollegeWellesley, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Wesleyan UniversityMiddletown, CT | 11 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Whitman CollegeWalla Walla, WA | 8 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Williams CollegeWilliamstown, MA | 5 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Yale UniversityNew Haven, CT | 14 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown, OH | 2 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Frequently asked questions
How much do astronomy majors make?
Graduates of the typical astronomy program earned a median of $44,930 one year after graduation and $69,728 four years after, in 2024 dollars.
Which college has the highest-paid astronomy graduates?
University of California-Berkeley, where graduates earned a median of $90,943 four years after graduation (programs with at least 10 graduates).
How many colleges offer a astronomy major?
101 colleges on the College Scorecard awarded bachelor's degrees in astronomy in 2022-23 or 2023-24.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field of study file, data release of October 15, 2026. Earnings are medians for graduates who received federal aid and were working, not enrolled. One-year figures: graduates of 2020-21 and 2021-22, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Four-year figures: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. More on the data.