Astronomy and Astrophysics: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates earn a median $68,333 four years after finishing — $19,973/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,906/yr net price ($67,624 over four years), that pays back in about 3.4 years. Federal data pools 101 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 949 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
Astronomy and Astrophysics ranks #72 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 65% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-Berkeley | CA | $90,943 |
| 2 | University of Colorado Boulder | CO | $72,698 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | PA | $66,759 |
| 4 | The University of Texas at Austin | TX | $65,987 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.