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Astrophysics

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#1 #1 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PA A liberal arts college, the most popular majors at Swarthmore are Economics, General, Computer and Information Sciences, General, Engineering, General, Mathematics, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 7% Annual Degrees Awarded 11 SAT Score 1,460–1,550 Est. Net Price * $17,930 Median Starting Salary $48,356
#2 #2 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Colgate University Hamilton, NY At Colgate University, the three most popular college majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government, General, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Other....view more Acceptance Rate 12% Annual Degrees Awarded 13 SAT Score 1,450–1,520 Est. Net Price * $26,954 Median Starting Salary $53,998
#3 #3 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of California-Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA At the University of California-Santa Cruz, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Psychology, General, and Business/Managerial Economics. In fact, the University of California-Santa Cruz awards 598 degrees annually to Computer Science majors....view more Acceptance Rate 63% Annual Degrees Awarded 48 SAT Score 1,180–1,390 Est. Net Price * $16,526 Median Starting Salary $50,225
#4 #4 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA The popular choices for majors at Caltech are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, General, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Chemistry, and General. The school has six divisions, all with emphasis on science and engineering, which include 24 majors and 6 minors....view more Acceptance Rate 3% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,540–1,590 Est. Net Price * $23,397 Median Starting Salary $45,431
#5 #5 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA At the University of California-Los Angeles, the most popular majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Sociology, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 9% Annual Degrees Awarded 41 SAT Score 1,320–1,540 Est. Net Price * $15,166 Median Starting Salary $46,944
#6 #6 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Whitman College Walla Walla, WA Each year, Whitman College awards about 33 degrees to students majoring in Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 50% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,280–1,480 Est. Net Price * $41,601 Median Starting Salary $58,773
#7 #7 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA At the University of California-Berkeley, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, and Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology....view more Acceptance Rate 12% Annual Degrees Awarded 37 SAT Score 1,330–1,540 Est. Net Price * $16,997 Median Starting Salary $46,089
#8 #8 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Wellesley College Wellesley, MA At Wellesley College, the three most popular college majors students study are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Computer and Information Sciences, General, and Neuroscience. In fact, Wellesley College awards 77 degrees annually to Econometrics and Quantitative Economics majors....view more Acceptance Rate 14% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,450–1,550 Est. Net Price * $21,501 Median Starting Salary $51,453
#9 #9 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Agnes Scott College Decatur, GA Each year, Agnes Scott College grants about 32 degrees to those studying Research and Experimental Psychology, Other, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 68% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,200–1,370 Est. Net Price * $25,609 Median Starting Salary $54,225
#10 #10 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NY Columbia University is separated into 20 different schools which include the College, global research outposts, Juilliard School, Barnard College, and more. Each new student will meet with an adviser to go over their plan and schedule for the upcoming year....view more Acceptance Rate 4% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 1,500–1,560 Est. Net Price * $20,869 Median Starting Salary $44,723
#11 #11 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Every year, Michigan State University awards around 534 degrees to those majoring in Advertising, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 84% Annual Degrees Awarded 21 SAT Score 1,170–1,360 Est. Net Price * $24,630 Median Starting Salary $55,827
#12 #12 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Lycoming College Williamsport, PA Each year, Lycoming College grants around 36 degrees to students studying Criminology, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Business Administration and Management, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 68% Annual Degrees Awarded 7 SAT Score 1,080–1,280 Est. Net Price * $20,733 Median Starting Salary $55,274
#13 #13 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN At the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General. In fact, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities awards 520 degrees per year to graduating Computer Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 17 SAT Score 1,290–1,420 Est. Net Price * $16,730 Median Starting Salary $55,287
#14 #14 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OH Annually, Ohio Wesleyan University awards about 29 degrees to students majoring in Zoology/Animal Biology, the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 51% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,180–1,390 Est. Net Price * $23,826 Median Starting Salary $57,882
#15 #15 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Princeton University Princeton, NJ Princeton University has 37 different concentrations for undergraduates. These include humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Currently, the most popular majors throughout the school are Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Public Policy Analysis, General, History, General, and......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,500–1,570 Est. Net Price * $19,811 Median Starting Salary $45,950
#16 #16 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Williams College Williamstown, MA With 24 departments and 35 majors, a majority of students decide to study in one of these five: Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Political Science and Government, General, Computer Science, History, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,470–1,560 Est. Net Price * $16,988 Median Starting Salary $49,376
#17 #17 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA At Carnegie Mellon University, the three most popular college majors students study are Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Business Administration and Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 11% Annual Degrees Awarded 8 SAT Score 1,500–1,570 Est. Net Price * $32,964 Median Starting Salary $54,438
#18 #18 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI Each year, the University of Wisconsin-Madison awards around 549 degrees to students majoring in Computer and Information Sciences, General, which is the school’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 44% Annual Degrees Awarded 12 SAT Score 1,330–1,460 Est. Net Price * $14,216 Median Starting Salary $57,440
#19 #19 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Yale University New Haven, CT Yale offers students seventy possible majors, which must be declared by sophomore or junior years, but students are always welcome to change. Some of the top majors currently are Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government, General, Computer and Information Sciences, General, Cell/Cellular and......view more Acceptance Rate 5% Annual Degrees Awarded 5 SAT Score 1,490–1,570 Est. Net Price * $26,044 Median Starting Salary $47,331
#20 #20 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PA Annually, Franklin and Marshall College awards around 82 degrees to students studying Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 32% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,310–1,460 Est. Net Price * $37,475 Median Starting Salary $59,478
#21 #21 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJ At Rutgers University-New Brunswick, the three most popular college majors students study are Computer and Information Sciences, General, Psychology, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 65% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 1,280–1,480 Est. Net Price * $19,052 Median Starting Salary $50,308
#22 #22 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Rice University Houston, TX Each year, Rice University grants about 118 degrees to those studying Computer and Information Sciences, General, the school’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Psychology, General, Mechanical Engineering, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 8% Annual Degrees Awarded 2 SAT Score 1,500–1,580 Est. Net Price * $20,587 Median Starting Salary $50,667
#23 #23 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK At the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Zoology/Animal Biology, and Journalism. In fact, the University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus grants 308 degrees annually to Psychology, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 77% Annual Degrees Awarded 10 SAT Score 1,140–1,340 Est. Net Price * $19,900 Median Starting Salary $52,182
#24 #24 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Tufts University Medford, MA Every year, Tufts University grants about 159 degrees to those majoring in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Computer Science, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and International Relations and Affairs....view more Acceptance Rate 10% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,460–1,550 Est. Net Price * $33,333 Median Starting Salary $54,570
#25 #25 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Washington University in St Louis Saint Louis, MO At Washington University in St Louis, the most popular majors students study are Computer Science, Experimental Psychology, Finance, and General. In fact, Washington University in St Louis grants 193 degrees annually to graduating Computer Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 12% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,480–1,560 Est. Net Price * $22,440 Median Starting Salary $54,710
#26 #26 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA At Lehigh University, the most popular majors students pursue are Finance, General, Computer Science, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, Lehigh University awards 171 degrees per year to graduating Finance, General students....view more Acceptance Rate 30% Annual Degrees Awarded 3 SAT Score 1,370–1,490 Est. Net Price * $33,289 Median Starting Salary $55,227
#27 #27 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, IL At Illinois Institute of Technology, the most popular majors students pursue are Computer Science, Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, Illinois Institute of Technology grants 107 degrees per year to graduating Computer Science students....view more Acceptance Rate 56% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,190–1,410 Est. Net Price * $25,001 Median Starting Salary $47,166
#28 #28 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Baylor University Waco, TX At Baylor University, the three most popular college majors students study are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Communication, and General. In fact, Baylor University awards 317 degrees per year to graduating Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse students....view more Acceptance Rate 51% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 1,240–1,420 Est. Net Price * $49,727 Median Starting Salary $56,436
#29 #29 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Siena College Loudonville, NY Annually, Siena College grants around 87 degrees to those studying Marketing/Marketing Management, General, the school’s most popular major. Other frequently pursued majors include Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, General, and Accounting....view more Acceptance Rate 71% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,110–1,360 Est. Net Price * $32,602 Median Starting Salary $59,748
#30 #30 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Concordia College at Moorhead Moorhead, MN At Concordia College at Moorhead, the most popular majors students pursue are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Business Administration and Management, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more Acceptance Rate 63% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,090–1,320 Est. Net Price * $25,488 Median Starting Salary $60,260
#31 #31 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI At the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the most popular majors students study are Psychology, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General. In fact, the University of Hawaii at Manoa awards 216 degrees annually to Psychology, General majors....view more Acceptance Rate 70% Annual Degrees Awarded 6 SAT Score 1,030–1,260 Est. Net Price * $14,557 Median Starting Salary $51,958
#32 #32 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Cincinnati, OH Every year, the University of Cincinnati-Main Campus awards about 418 degrees to those majoring in Marketing/Marketing Management, General, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, General, Finance, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 88% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,180–1,350 Est. Net Price * $21,511 Median Starting Salary $53,374
#33 #33 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Oglethorpe University Atlanta, GA Every year, Oglethorpe University awards about 50 degrees to students studying Business Administration and Management, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more Acceptance Rate 60% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,120–1,340 Est. Net Price * $22,251 Median Starting Salary $51,940
#34 #34 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. Ohio University-Main Campus Athens, OH Each year, Ohio University-Main Campus grants around 1714 degrees to students studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, the school’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Speech Communication and Rhetoric, Marketing/Marketing Management, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 85% Annual Degrees Awarded 1 SAT Score 1,110–1,310 Est. Net Price * $20,550 Median Starting Salary $54,940
#35 #35 Best College for Astrophysics in the U.S. University of New Mexico-Main Campus Albuquerque, NM At the University of New Mexico-Main Campus, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, and General....view more Acceptance Rate 96% Annual Degrees Awarded 4 SAT Score 930–1,180 Est. Net Price * $7,528 Median Starting Salary $50,730
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

About Astrophysics

A program that focuses on the theoretical and observational study of the structure, properties, and behavior of stars, star systems and clusters, stellar life cycles, and related phenomena. Includes instruction in cosmology, plasma kinetics, stellar physics, convolution and non-equilibrium radiation transfer theory, non-Euclidean geometries, mathematical modeling, galactic structure theory, and relativistic astronomy.

California grants the most Bachelors degrees in Astrophysics of all US states with 130 degrees being granted last year. Students wanting to major in Astrophysics can expect around 45% percent of their classmates to be women and 55% percent of their classmates to be male. The majority students graduating in this field earn a Bachelors degree. The average annual income for an undergraduate degree in Astrophysics is $51,867.

Popularity of Astrophysics Degrees in the U.S.

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

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Careers

For Astrophysics majors, some of the most in demand careers include Natural Sciences Managers, Physicists and Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. Additionally, Astrophysics graduates may land a high-paying job, such as Natural Sciences Managers or Physicists.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Astrophysics majors.

Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Astrophysics majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students

328

Female Students

146 (44%)

Male Students

182 (55%)

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Astrophysics

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

7%

11

1,460–1,550

$17,930

$48,356

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

12%

13

1,450–1,520

$26,954

$53,998

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

63%

48

1,180–1,390

$16,526

$50,225

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

3%

4

1,540–1,590

$23,397

$45,431

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

9%

41

1,320–1,540

$15,166

$46,944

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

50%

8

1,280–1,480

$41,601

$58,773

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

12%

37

1,330–1,540

$16,997

$46,089

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

14%

7

1,450–1,550

$21,501

$51,453

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

68%

6

1,200–1,370

$25,609

$54,225

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

4%

12

1,500–1,560

$20,869

$44,723

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

84%

21

1,170–1,360

$24,630

$55,827

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

68%

7

1,080–1,280

$20,733

$55,274

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

77%

17

1,290–1,420

$16,730

$55,287

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