2026 Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Astronomy And Astrophysics doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 163 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor evaluated schools to compile this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Astronomy And Astrophysics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot in this year's ranking in the United States. Set in Evanston, IL, Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. In-state tuition and fees run about $68,322. Graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Read more about Northwestern University
A rank of #2 makes The University Of Texas At Austin one of the top choices in the United States. The University Of Texas At Austin is a public school based in Austin, TX. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,688, with out-of-state students paying around $44,908. Graduates carry a median of $25,250 in student loans. Read the full report on The University Of Texas At Austin
You'll be in good company at Rochester Institute Of Technology, which ranked #3 this year. Based in Rochester, NY, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,491 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Read more about Rochester Institute Of Technology
University Of Chicago came in at #4 on this year's Astronomy And Astrophysics ranking in the United States. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. University Of Chicago posts a six-year graduation rate of 96%. In-state tuition and fees average $69,324. Graduates carry a median of $15,854 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Chicago
The strong Astronomy And Astrophysics programs at University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earned it the #5 place in the United States. Based in Champaign, IL, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign graduates 85% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $18,267 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $40,096. Graduates carry a median of $20,778 in student loans. More on University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign
University Of California Berkeley came in at #6 in this year's ranking. University Of California Berkeley is a public school based in Berkeley, CA. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,377, with out-of-state students paying around $47,265. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $19,500. See the full University Of California Berkeley profile
University Of Maryland College Park placed #7 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Located in College Park, MD, University Of Maryland College Park is a public institution. University Of Maryland College Park posts a six-year graduation rate of 89%. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,809, with out-of-state students paying around $41,186. University Of Maryland College Park Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $20,836 in debt. More on University Of Maryland College Park
Cornell University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. Based in Ithaca, NY, Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Students borrow a median of $15,005 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. More on Cornell University
University Of Minnesota Twin Cities did well this year, earning the #9 position. Located in Minneapolis, MN, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. Students from in state pay about $17,214 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,362. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $21,577 in debt. Get the full University Of Minnesota Twin Cities report
University Of Colorado Boulder landed the #10 spot in the United States this year. University Of Colorado Boulder is a public school based in Boulder, CO. About 74% of students finish within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,214, compared with $42,970 for out-of-state students. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $22,324. More on University Of Colorado Boulder
Johns Hopkins University came in at #11 in this year's ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit school based in Baltimore, MD. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,730. Students borrow a median of $13,426 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. See the full Johns Hopkins University profile
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Set in Charlottesville, VA, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Read the full report on University Of Virginia Main Campus
University Of Arizona came in at #13 in this year's ranking. Located in Tucson, AZ, University Of Arizona is a public institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Graduates carry a median of $25,406 in student loans. See the full University Of Arizona profile
Boston University placed #14 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Located in Boston, MA, Boston University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $25,232. Read more about Boston University
Indiana University Bloomington did well this year, earning the #15 position. Indiana University Bloomington is a public school based in Bloomington, IN. About 80% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, while out-of-state students pay about $41,891. Indiana University Bloomington Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $20,542 in debt. Read more about Indiana University Bloomington
Ohio State University Main Campus ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. This public school is set in Columbus, OH. Ohio State University Main Campus posts a six-year graduation rate of 88%. In-state tuition and fees average $13,244, with out-of-state students paying around $40,022. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $20,500. Get the full Ohio State University Main Campus report
University Of Nevada Las Vegas came in at #17 in this year's ranking. Located in Las Vegas, NV, University Of Nevada Las Vegas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,748, while out-of-state students pay about $27,411. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $21,181. More on University Of Nevada Las Vegas
University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #18 spot in the United States this year. This public school is set in Santa Cruz, CA. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees run about $15,035, while out-of-state students pay about $46,923. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. More on University Of California Santa Cruz
University Of Wisconsin Madison landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Based in Madison, WI, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. In-state tuition and fees average $11,603, compared with $42,103 for out-of-state students. Typical Astronomy And Astrophysics student debt is $19,500. See the full University Of Wisconsin Madison profile
California Institute Of Technology placed #20 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Located in Pasadena, CA, California Institute Of Technology is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,898. Read the full report on California Institute Of Technology
Michigan State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Based in East Lansing, MI, Michigan State University is a public institution. Roughly 81% of students complete a degree within six years here. Students from in state pay about $18,079 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Michigan State University Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $25,213 in debt. Get the full Michigan State University report
University Of California Los Angeles did well this year, earning the #22 position. Located in Los Angeles, CA, University Of California Los Angeles is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. In-state tuition and fees average $14,233, compared with $46,121 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,097 to complete their Astronomy And Astrophysics program here. Read the full report on University Of California Los Angeles
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor placed #23 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. This public school is set in Ann Arbor, MI. The six-year graduation rate is 93%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,848, while out-of-state students pay about $63,081. The median Astronomy And Astrophysics program debt is $19,137. See the full University Of Michigan Ann Arbor profile
University Of Washington Seattle Campus did well this year, earning the #24 position. University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public school based in Seattle, WA. Roughly 85% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,973, while out-of-state students pay about $43,209. University Of Washington Seattle Campus Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $16,481 in debt. See the full University Of Washington Seattle Campus profile
Arizona State University landed the #25 spot in the United States this year. Based in Tempe, AZ, Arizona State University is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,223, while out-of-state students pay about $33,139. Arizona State University Astronomy And Astrophysics students take on a median of $21,842 in debt. More on Arizona State University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Mesa Community College came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full Mesa Community College report
Glendale Community College Glendale Ca did well this year, earning the #27 position. More on Glendale Community College Glendale Ca
University Of Wyoming landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. Read more about University Of Wyoming
Depaul University did well this year, earning the #29 position. Read more about Depaul University
George Mason University ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. More on George Mason University
Ohio University Zanesville Campus came in at #31 in this year's ranking. Get the full Ohio University Zanesville Campus report
College Of San Mateo landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Read more about College Of San Mateo
Ohio Wesleyan University did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about Ohio Wesleyan University
Wheaton College Massachusetts came in at #34 in this year's ranking. Read more about Wheaton College Massachusetts
Santa Barbara City College placed #35 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Get the full Santa Barbara City College report
Washington University In St Louis placed #36 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
Glendale Community College Glendale Az placed #37 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. More on Glendale Community College Glendale Az
New Mexico State University Main Campus ranked #38 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Get the full New Mexico State University Main Campus report
San Diego City College ranked #39 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. See the full San Diego City College profile
University Of Alaska Fairbanks ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. More on University Of Alaska Fairbanks
South Mountain Community College landed the #41 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on South Mountain Community College
Swarthmore College placed #42 among Astronomy And Astrophysics schools in the United States. More on Swarthmore College
Ohio University Lancaster Campus came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Read more about Ohio University Lancaster Campus
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #45 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. See the full Texas A And M University College Station profile
Florida Institute Of Technology came in at #46 in this year's ranking. More on Florida Institute Of Technology
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Get the full University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus report
Hampton University ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. Read more about Hampton University
Butler University ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Astronomy And Astrophysics schools. See the full Butler University profile
Wesleyan University landed the #50 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Wesleyan University report
Related Astronomy And Astrophysics Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Schools (All Levels)
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Astronomy And Astrophysics Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 163 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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