2023 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California
Finding the Best Astronomy & Astrophysics School for You
In 2020-2021, 251 degrees and certificates were awarded to astronomy and astrophysics students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #175 most popular major in the state.
There are lots of options to pick from today when trying to decide which program is right for you. You're no longer limited to schools in your local area, either, since online programs are becoming more prevalent. Or you may find the programs at a trade school to be a better alternative for you.
To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California ranking. This report analyzed 5 schools in California to see which ones offered the best programs for students.
View our full ranking methodology.
2023 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California
Check out the astronomy programs at these schools if you want to get the best education that money can buy.
Top California Schools in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Our analysis found University of California - Berkeley to be the best school for astronomy and astrophysics students who want to pursue a degree in California. Located in the midsize city of Berkeley, UC Berkeley is a public school with a very large student population.
After completing their degree, astronomy graduates from UC Berkeley carry an average student debtload of $18,967.
Read full report on Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Berkeley
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You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California list. SDSU is a very large public school located in the city of San Diego.
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Santa Cruz. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California list. UC Santa Cruz is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Cruz.
On average, astronomy graduates from UC Santa Cruz take out $20,500 in student loans while working on their degree.
Full Astronomy & Astrophysics at University of California - Santa Cruz Report
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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend University of California - Los Angeles. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Schools in California list. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a fairly large student population.
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Out of the 5 schools in California that were part of this year’s ranking, California Institute of Technology landed the # 5 spot on the list. Caltech is a small private not-for-profit school located in the midsize city of Pasadena.
Request InformationBest Astronomy & Astrophysics Colleges in the Far Western US Region
Explore all the Best Astronomy & Astrophysics Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.
| State | Degrees Awarded |
|---|---|
| Washington | 70 |
| Nevada | 3 |
| Hawaii | 19 |
| Alaska | 0 |
More Astronomy & Astrophysics Rankings in California
Astronomy & Astrophysics Related Rankings by Major
Astronomy & Astrophysics is one of 8 different types of programs to choose from.
Most Popular Related Majors
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Chemistry | 21,239 |
| Physics | 13,674 |
| Geological & Earth Sciences | 7,821 |
| General Physical Sciences | 3,823 |
| Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology | 1,140 |
Notes and References
*These averages are for the top 5 schools only.
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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