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Astronomy

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#1 #1 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Chicago Chicago, IL UChicago has 51 academic majors available to students in five divisions: Biological Sciences Collegiate Division, the Physical Sciences Collegiate Division, the Social Sciences Collegiate Division, the Humanities Collegiate Division, and the New Collegiate Division. They also offer 33 minors....view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 16 SAT Score 1,510–1,560 Est. Net Price * $27,979 Median Starting Salary $47,839
#2 #2 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Every year, the University of Colorado Boulder awards around 1087 degrees to those studying Business Administration and Management, General, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 83% Annual Degrees Awarded 55 SAT Score 1,260–1,440 Est. Net Price * $22,640 Median Starting Salary $54,551
#3 #3 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Annually, Mount Holyoke College awards around 61 degrees to students studying Experimental Psychology, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Environmental Studies....view more Acceptance Rate 38% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,360–1,500 Est. Net Price * $35,782 Median Starting Salary $53,554
#4 #4 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 481 degrees to those studying Computer Science, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, and Biochemistry....view more Acceptance Rate 43% Annual Degrees Awarded 37 SAT Score 1,230–1,460 Est. Net Price * $11,023 Median Starting Salary $48,965
#5 #5 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY At Vassar College, the most popular majors students study are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, Economics, General, Political Science and Government, and General. In fact, Vassar College grants 46 degrees annually to graduating Research and Experimental Psychology, Other students....view more Acceptance Rate 18% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,450–1,550 Est. Net Price * $29,733 Median Starting Salary $53,395
#6 #6 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Each year, The University of Texas at Austin awards around 671 degrees to those majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 29% Annual Degrees Awarded 26 SAT Score 1,250–1,490 Est. Net Price * $18,036 Median Starting Salary $50,842
#7 #7 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Amherst College Amherst, MA Amherst College has an open curriculum plan, which means there are no general education requirements for students. This results in the chance for freshman to take advanced courses, and upperclassmen to take introductory classes....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,380–1,550 Est. Net Price * $17,965 Median Starting Salary $48,427
#8 #8 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Smith College Northampton, MA Each year, Smith College awards about 61 degrees to those majoring in Political Science and Government, General, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 20% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,420–1,530 Est. Net Price * $27,823 Median Starting Salary $57,404
#9 #9 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the most popular majors students study are Finance, General, Information Science/Studies, Psychology, and General. In fact, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus awards 449 degrees annually to Finance, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 54% Annual Degrees Awarded 28 SAT Score 1,230–1,410 Est. Net Price * $27,450 Median Starting Salary $53,204
#10 #10 Best College for Astronomy in the U.S. Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH Annually, Ohio State University-Main Campus awards around 794 degrees to students majoring in Finance, General, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 51% Annual Degrees Awarded 21 SAT Score 1,340–1,450 Est. Net Price * $19,575 Median Starting Salary $53,003
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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Institution	Scaled Score	Acceptance Rate	Annual Degrees Awarded	SAT Score	Est. Net Price *	Median Starting Salary
University of Chicago Chicago, IL UChicago has 51 academic majors available to students in five divisions: Biological Sciences Collegiate...view more	100	5%	16	1,510 - 1,560	$27,979	$47,839
University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, CO Every year, the University of Colorado Boulder awards around 1087 degrees to...view more	90	83%	55	1,260 - 1,440	$22,640	$54,551
Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MA Annually, Mount Holyoke College awards around 61 degrees to students studying...view more	82	38%	11	1,360 - 1,500	$35,782	$53,554
University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Annually, the University of Washington-Seattle Campus grants around 481...view more	78	43%	37	1,230 - 1,460	$11,023	$48,965
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, NY At Vassar College, the most popular majors students study are Research and...view more	75	18%	6	1,450 - 1,550	$29,733	$53,395
The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX Each year, The University of Texas at Austin awards around 671 degrees to...view more	74	29%	26	1,250 - 1,490	$18,036	$50,842
Amherst College Amherst, MA Amherst College has an open curriculum plan, which means there are no general education requirements for...view more	74	10%	4	1,380 - 1,550	$17,965	$48,427
Smith College Northampton, MA Each year, Smith College awards about 61 degrees to those majoring in...view more	73	20%	5	1,420 - 1,530	$27,823	$57,404
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus University Park, PA At Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, the most popular majors...view more	73	54%	28	1,230 - 1,410	$27,450	$53,204
Bryn Mawr College Bryn Mawr, PA At Bryn Mawr College, the most popular majors students study are Psychology,...view more	70	31%	3	1,320 - 1,470	$39,383	$58,310

*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

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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 Masters degree. Students major in Astronomy all over the country, though the major at the Bachelors degree level sees the most graduates in Colorado. 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.

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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 Natural Sciences Managers. the most in-demand position for Astronomy majors is Natural Sciences Managers.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Astronomy majors.

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Career	Median Salary	Average Annual Job Openings	Employment 2022	Employment 2032	% Change
Natural Sciences Managers Clinical Research Coordinators Water Resource Specialists	$157,740	2,398	31,844	33,394	5%
Astronomers	$127,930	46	554	600	8%
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary	$100,690	169	2,094	2,171	4%

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Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Astronomy majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

445

Female Students

187 (42%)

Male Students

258 (57%)

White (285, 64%)

Hispanic or Latino (44, 10%)

U.S. Nonresident (41, 9%)

Asian (31, 7%)

Two or more races (28, 6%)

Race/ethnicity unknown (8, 2%)

Black or African American (5, 1%)

American Indian or Alaska Native (2, <1%)

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (1, <1%)

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Articles

Resources for:

Astronomy

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

5%

16

1,510–1,560

$27,979

$47,839

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

83%

55

1,260–1,440

$22,640

$54,551

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

38%

11

1,360–1,500

$35,782

$53,554

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

43%

37

1,230–1,460

$11,023

$48,965

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

18%

6

1,450–1,550

$29,733

$53,395

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

29%

26

1,250–1,490

$18,036

$50,842

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

10%

4

1,380–1,550

$17,965

$48,427

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

20%

5

1,420–1,530

$27,823

$57,404

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

54%

28

1,230–1,410

$27,450

$53,204

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

51%

21

1,340–1,450

$19,575

$53,003

About Astronomy

Careers

Top Paying Careers

Most In-Demand Careers

Student Demographics

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