Best institutions to study 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.
48 U.S. institutions graduated 502 Astrophysics students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 40.0202, a specialization of Astronomy and Astrophysics (CIP 40.02), and leads most directly to the Astronomers occupation (BLS SOC 19-2011).
About Astrophysics programs
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.
See also: 40.1101 - Physics and Astronomy.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Astrophysics program, a subset of Astronomy and Astrophysics, delves into the theoretical and observational study of celestial bodies and phenomena. This program is ideal for students passionate about understanding the universe, including the structure, properties, and behavior of stars and galaxies. It prepares graduates for advanced research and exploration in the field of physical sciences.
Students in the Astrophysics program gain foundational knowledge in physics and mathematics, along with skills in critical thinking and scientific analysis. Coursework typically includes cosmology, stellar physics, and mathematical modeling, equipping students to tackle complex astronomical challenges.
Credentials awarded
What Astrophysics graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree366 graduates / yr · 38 institutions73%
- Master's degree67 graduates / yr · 9 institutions13%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship67 graduates / yr · 13 institutions13%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.4%
Graduates over time
Astrophysics completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 198 |
| 2013 | 219 |
| 2014 | 236 |
| 2015 | 199 |
| 2016 | 244 |
| 2017 | 312 |
| 2018 | 296 |
| 2019 | 314 |
| 2020 | 351 |
| 2021 | 418 |
| 2022 | 410 |
| 2023 | 415 |
| 2024 | 450 |
| 2025 | 502 |
Top 48 institutions for Astrophysics, 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 California - Berkeley Berkeley, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 57 | 93% | — | $54,746 |
| 2 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoralBachelor's | 41 | 98% | $13,729 | — |
| 3 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CAPublicBachelor's | 40 | 75% | — | $35,171 |
| 4 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MIPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 35 | 81% | — | $33,373 |
| 5 | University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MNPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 29 | 85% | — | — |
| 6 | University of Colorado Boulder Boulder, COPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 24 | 74% | — | $45,066 |
| 7 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicBachelor's | 23 | 93% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Wisconsin - Madison Madison, WIPublicBachelor's | 23 | 90% | — | $45,783 |
| 9 | California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 21 | 94% | $17,608 | — |
| 10 | University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign Champaign, ILPublicBachelor's | 19 | 85% | — | — |
| 11 | Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZPublicDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 68% | — | — |
| 12 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 13 | 70% | $28,133 | — |
| 13 | Rutgers University - New Brunswick New Brunswick, NJPublicBachelor's | 12 | 84% | — | — |
| 14 | Columbia University in the City of New York New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 11 | 96% | $15,315 | — |
| 15 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 96% | $27,025 | — |
| 16 | University of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HIPublicBachelor's | 8 | 64% | — | — |
| 17 | Colgate University Hamilton, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 91% | $22,903 | — |
| 18 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 94% | $23,803 | — |
| 19 | Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 75% | $19,899 | — |
| 20 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 21 | Franklin and Marshall College Lancaster, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 84% | $27,178 | — |
| 22 | Baylor University Waco, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 80% | $35,682 | — |
| 23 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 81% | $28,508 | — |
| 24 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 6 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
| 25 | Wellesley College Wellesley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 6 | 92% | $19,292 | — |
| 26 | University of New Mexico - Main Campus Albuquerque, NMPublicBachelor's | 6 | 55% | — | — |
| 27 | Agnes Scott College Decatur, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 71% | $23,947 | — |
| 28 | Rice University Houston, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 5 | 95% | $13,264 | — |
| 29 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster's | 4 | — | — | — |
| 30 | Ohio University - Main Campus Athens, OHPublicBachelor's | 4 | 65% | — | — |
| 31 | University of Oklahoma - Norman Campus Norman, OKPublicBachelor's | 4 | 75% | — | — |
| 32 | Lycoming College Williamsport, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 60% | $17,924 | — |
| 33 | Williams College Williamstown, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 94% | $10,747 | — |
| 34 | Siena University Loudonville, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 75% | $30,138 | — |
| 35 | University of Cincinnati - Main Campus Cincinnati, OHPublicBachelor's | 3 | 75% | — | — |
| 36 | University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AKPublicDoctoral | 2 | 38% | — | — |
| 37 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicDoctoral | 2 | 80% | — | — |
| 38 | Michigan Technological University Houghton, MIPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 68% | — | — |
| 39 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 94% | $14,126 | — |
| 40 | SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo, NYPublicBachelor's | 2 | 71% | — | — |
| 41 | Haverford College Haverford, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 90% | $17,179 | — |
| 42 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 88% | $26,912 | — |
| 43 | Vanderbilt University Nashville, TNPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 2 | 94% | $14,854 | — |
| 44 | Oglethorpe University Atlanta, GAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 54% | $21,022 | — |
| 45 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 46 | Ohio Wesleyan University Delaware, OHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 59% | $18,325 | — |
| 47 | Swarthmore College Swarthmore, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 92% | $18,174 | — |
| 48 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 1 | 86% | $25,823 | — |
* 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 23 states
Where Astrophysics 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 Astrophysics program can pursue careers as astronomers, physicists, or educators in the field of Earth and space sciences. The job outlook for these roles is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.2% and a median wage of $132,170. Advanced education, typically a doctoral degree, is essential for most positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 40.0202
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 |
Physicists SOC 19-2012 | $172,250 | +4.0% About as fast as average | ~1,700 | Doctoral or professional 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 Astrophysics 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 Astrophysics?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Astrophysics.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in reading comprehension, mathematics, critical thinking, and scientific writing.
What careers can I pursue with a degree in Astrophysics?+
You can become an astronomer, physicist, or a postsecondary teacher in related fields.
What is the job outlook for astrophysicists?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with an annual growth rate of 2.2%.
What is the CIP code for Astrophysics?+
Astrophysics is CIP 40.0202 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 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.
How many institutions offer Astrophysics programs?+
48 U.S. institutions reported Astrophysics graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 23 states, awarding 502 credentials in the year. That is 31.1% of all Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates.
How much do Astrophysics graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Astronomers occupation, which Astrophysics 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 $45,066 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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