Best institutions to study Astronomy
A general program that focuses on the planetary, galactic, and stellar phenomena occurring in outer space.
81 U.S. institutions graduated 875 Astronomy students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0201, a specialization of Astronomy and Astrophysics (CIP 40.02), and leads most directly to the Astronomers occupation (BLS SOC 19-2011).
About Astronomy programs
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.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Astronomy program, part of the broader Astronomy and Astrophysics field, focuses on the study of celestial phenomena, including planets, stars, and galaxies. This program is ideal for students who are passionate about exploring the universe and understanding the physical sciences that govern it. With a blend of theoretical and practical instruction, students will delve into topics such as cosmology, stellar physics, and planetary science.
Students in the Astronomy program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, and critical thinking. Coursework typically includes instruction in celestial mechanics, optical astronomy, and radioastronomy, equipping students with the knowledge necessary to analyze astronomical data and conduct research effectively.
Credentials awarded
What Astronomy graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree560 graduates / yr · 57 institutions64%
- Master's degree173 graduates / yr · 32 institutions20%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship121 graduates / yr · 26 institutions14%
- Associate's degree20 graduates / yr · 11 institutions2.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.1%
Graduates over time
Astronomy completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 430 |
| 2013 | 400 |
| 2014 | 441 |
| 2015 | 411 |
| 2016 | 444 |
| 2017 | 501 |
| 2018 | 555 |
| 2019 | 645 |
| 2020 | 665 |
| 2021 | 692 |
| 2022 | 688 |
| 2023 | 813 |
| 2024 | 809 |
| 2025 | 875 |
Top 50 institutions for Astronomy, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicBachelor's | 58 | 74% | — | $45,066 |
| 2 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 52 | 89% | — | $29,404 |
| 3 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 51 | 68% | — | — |
| 4 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 48 | 88% | — | — |
| 5 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 48 | 85% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Florida Gainesville, FLPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 47 | 91% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 34 | 93% | — | — |
| 8 | Pennsylvania State University - Main Campus University Park, PAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 32 | 86% | — | $39,728 |
| 9 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 85% | — | — |
| 10 | University of Maryland - College Park College Park, MDPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 30 | 89% | — | — |
| 11 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 29 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 12 | University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 26 | 96% | — | — |
| 13 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 96% | $13,333 | — |
| 14 | San Diego State University San Diego, CAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 23 | 76% | — | — |
| 15 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicDoctoralMaster's | 19 | 75% | — | $35,171 |
| 16 | University of Massachusetts - Amherst Amherst, MAPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 18 | 83% | — | — |
| 17 | Northwestern University Evanston, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 16 | 95% | $14,799 | — |
| 18 | Cornell University Ithaca, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 16 | 95% | $17,613 | — |
| 19 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 15 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 20 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 14 | 64% | — | — |
| 21 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 55% | — | — |
| 22 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sBachelor'sDoctoral | 13 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 23 | University of Iowa Iowa City, IAPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 12 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | Wesleyan University Middletown, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster's | 10 | 93% | $16,467 | — |
| 25 | Villanova University Villanova, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 92% | $33,774 | — |
| 26 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 9 | 80% | — | — |
| 27 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CAPublicMaster's | 7 | 50% | — | — |
| 28 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 84% | $26,083 | — |
| 29 | Stony Brook University Stony Brook, NYPublicBachelor's | 7 | 76% | — | — |
| 30 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 7 | 81% | $13,712 | — |
| 31 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 7 | 90% | — | $45,783 |
| 32 | University of Georgia Athens, GAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 90% | — | — |
| 33 | University of Kansas Lawrence, KSPublicBachelor's | 6 | 69% | — | — |
| 34 | Smith College Northampton, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 89% | $17,183 | — |
| 35 | Wayne State University Detroit, MIPublicBachelor's | 6 | 58% | — | — |
| 36 | Haverford College Haverford, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 90% | $17,179 | — |
| 37 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicBachelor's | 6 | 68% | — | — |
| 38 | Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZPublicBachelor's | 5 | 61% | — | — |
| 39 | Valdosta State University Valdosta, GAPublicBachelor's | 5 | 42% | — | — |
| 40 | State University of New York at New Paltz New Paltz, NYPublicBachelor's | 5 | 72% | — | — |
| 41 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 5 | 84% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Delaware Newark, DEPublicBachelor's | 4 | 81% | — | — |
| 43 | Georgia State University Atlanta, GAPublicDoctoral | 4 | 53% | — | — |
| 44 | University of Hawaii at Hilo Hilo, HIPublicBachelor's | 4 | 48% | — | — |
| 45 | Ball State University Muncie, INPublicBachelor's | 4 | 62% | — | — |
| 46 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 4 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 47 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 96% | $14,689 | — |
| 48 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 49 | Embry - Riddle Aeronautical University - Prescott Prescott, AZPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 68% | $38,461 | — |
| 50 | Glendale Community College Glendale, AZPublicAssociate's | 3 | 16% | — | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Astronomy and Astrophysics field (CIP 40.02) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 29 states
Where Astronomy graduates come from. Each state links to all Astronomy and Astrophysics programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-2011, Astronomers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Astronomy program can pursue careers as astronomers and in related fields such as natural sciences management and education. The job outlook for astronomers is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 2.2% and approximately 100 annual openings. The median wage for astronomers is $132,170, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0201
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Astronomersprimary SOC 19-2011 | $128,820 | +2.2% About as fast as average | ~100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 | $167,220 | +3.7% About as fast as average | ~8,500 | Bachelor's degree |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1051 | $103,170 | +2.6% About as fast as average | ~1,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Astronomy programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
What graduates do on the job
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
- Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
- Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
- Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
- Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
Tools and technology used
Other Astronomy and Astrophysics specializations
The 3 other 6-digit CIP codes under Astronomy and Astrophysics (CIP 40.02).
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, Doctor's, or Associate's degree in Astronomy.
What skills will I gain from this program?+
You will gain skills in science, mathematics, critical thinking, and data analysis.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Astronomy?+
You can become an astronomer, natural sciences manager, or a postsecondary teacher in related fields.
What is the job outlook for astronomers?+
The job outlook for astronomers is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 2.2%.
What is the CIP code for Astronomy?+
Astronomy is CIP 40.0201 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Astronomy and Astrophysics (CIP 40.02). NCES defines it as: 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.
How many institutions offer Astronomy programs?+
81 U.S. institutions reported Astronomy graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 29 states, awarding 875 credentials in the year. That is 54.2% of all Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates.
How much do Astronomy graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Astronomers occupation, which Astronomy most directly leads to, pays a median of $128,820 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Astronomy and Astrophysics field report median earnings of $39,728 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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