Astronomy: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Exploring the vast mysteries of the universe, this program delves into the dynamic processes shaping planets, stars, galaxies, and the cosmos at large. Students engage in rigorous scientific inquiry to understand the physical laws governing celestial bodies and the origins of the universe.
- Celestial mechanics: The study of motion and gravitational interactions among astronomical objects, including orbits, stability, and orbital resonance.
- Cosmology: The scientific exploration of the universe’s origin, structure, evolution, and ultimate fate, grounded in observational and theoretical models.
- Stellar physics: Investigation into the internal structure, energy production, life cycles, and eventual demise of stars through nuclear fusion and gravitational collapse.
- Galactic evolution: Analysis of how galaxies form, interact, merge, and change over billions of years, including the role of dark matter and star formation rates.
- Quasars and active galactic nuclei: Study of extremely luminous cores powered by supermassive black holes, serving as probes of early universe conditions.
- Stellar distribution and motion: Examination of how stars are arranged and move within galaxies, revealing insights into galactic dynamics and mass distribution.
- Interstellar medium: Research into the gas, dust, and magnetic fields that fill the space between stars, influencing star formation and chemical evolution.
- Atomic and molecular constituents: Analysis of the chemical composition of celestial objects, including spectral signatures and the role of elements in astrophysical processes.
- Planetary science: In-depth exploration of planetary bodies, including formation, surface features, atmospheres, and internal structure.
- Solar system evolution: Investigation into the history and development of the solar system, from protoplanetary disks to current planetary configurations.
- Observational methodologies: Hands-on training in optical astronomy, radioastronomy, and theoretical modeling to collect, interpret, and simulate astronomical data.
Astronomy Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Astronomy Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Astronomy degrees, including Natural Sciences Managers, Astronomers and Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 113,910 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences Managers 11-9121 | $161,180 | $79,830 - $239,200 | 100,870 | $77.49 |
| Astronomers 19-2011 | $132,170 | $70,730 - $191,880 | 1,560 | $63.54 |
| Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1051 | $101,390 | $53,310 - $199,260 | 11,480 | N/A |
Salary Comparison
Astronomy Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $78,465 in Florida to $170,190 in Massachusetts—a 117% difference. The highest-paying states include Massachusetts, District of Columbia, and California. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 113,910 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Astronomy by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 83 institutions offering Astronomy programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Astronomy is found at University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (63 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (49 graduates), Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (48 graduates), The University of Texas, Austin (43 graduates), and University of Maryland (UMCP), College Park (41 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 876 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Admissions | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colorado Boulder (CU) |
Bachelor's
|
63 |
SAT: 1230-1420 ACT: 28-33 |
Boulder, Colorado | Public | colorado.edu |
| University of Washington (UW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
49 | N/A | Seattle, Washington | Public | washington.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
48 |
SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | psu.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
43 |
SAT: 1230-1490 ACT: 27-33 |
Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
41 |
SAT: 1370-1520 ACT: 32-35 |
College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
39 |
SAT: 1410-1530 ACT: 32-34 |
Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
38 |
SAT: 1160-1420 ACT: 21-30 |
Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
36 |
SAT: 1330-1480 ACT: 29-32 |
Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
35 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33 |
Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
34 |
SAT: 1510-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27 |
SAT: 1270-1510 ACT: 29-34 |
Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
27 |
SAT: 1350-1530 ACT: 31-34 |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
25 |
SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 32-34 |
Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| Cornell University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
24 |
SAT: 1480-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Ithaca, New York | Private | cornell.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
19 |
SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 29-33 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Public | umass.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
18 |
SAT: 1490-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
18 |
SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 28-32 |
Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
15 | N/A | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Wesleyan University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
13 |
SAT: 1450-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Middletown, Connecticut | Private | wesleyan.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1160-1390 ACT: 25-32 |
Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
13 |
SAT: 1020-1240 ACT: 20-27 |
Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Stony Brook University (SBU) |
Bachelor's
|
13 |
SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 28-33 |
Stony Brook, New York | Public | stonybrook.edu |
| University of California (UCSC) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 | N/A | Santa Cruz, California | Public | ucsc.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
12 |
SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32 |
Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| Northwestern University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
10 |
SAT: 1490-1560 ACT: 33-35 |
Evanston, Illinois | Private | northwestern.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
10 |
SAT: 1360-1510 ACT: 28-32 |
Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Master's
|
9 | N/A | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
9 |
SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 22-28 |
Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-33 |
South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
|
8 |
SAT: 1400-1510 ACT: 32-34 |
Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
8 |
SAT: 1140-1380 ACT: 25-31 |
College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
7 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 33-35 |
New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 21-27 |
Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| Amherst College |
Bachelor's
|
7 |
SAT: 1360-1550 ACT: 31-35 |
Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | amherst.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
7 |
SAT: 885-1110 ACT: 17-24 |
Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (R)
|
7 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 32-35 |
Cleveland, Ohio | Private | case.edu |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 1160-1360 ACT: 24-29 |
Prescott, Arizona | Private | prescott.erau.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHH) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 898-1110 ACT: 15-22 |
Hilo, Hawaii | Public | hilo.hawaii.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Bachelor's
|
6 |
SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27 |
Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1080-1250 ACT: 25-30 |
Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Smith College |
Bachelor's
|
5 |
SAT: 1408-1540 ACT: 32-34 |
Northampton, Massachusetts | Private | smith.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | N/A | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| Saddleback College |
Associate's
|
4 | N/A | Mission Viejo, California | Public | saddleback.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Master's
Doctorate (R)
|
4 |
SAT: 980-1230 ACT: 18-24 |
Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | N/A | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Orange Coast College (OCC) |
Associate's
|
3 | N/A | Costa Mesa, California | Public | orangecoastcollege.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 32-35 |
Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Doctorate (R)
|
3 |
SAT: 1040-1280 ACT: 19-26 |
Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1040-1260 ACT: 21-28 |
Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
3 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 33-35 |
Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) |
Associate's
|
2 | N/A | Monterey, California | Public | mpc.edu |
| Santa Barbara City College (SBCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | N/A | Santa Barbara, California | Public | sbcc.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 950-1130 ACT: 17-23 |
Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1080-1310 ACT: 25-30 |
Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| Benedictine College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1117-1310 ACT: 22-29 |
Atchison, Kansas | Private | benedictine.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1060-1270 ACT: 20-27 |
Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) |
Master's
|
2 |
SAT: 1330-1500 ACT: 30-34 |
Troy, New York | Private | rpi.edu |
| Vassar College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1435-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | vassar.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 17-24 |
Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Bryn Mawr College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1300-1470 ACT: 30-33 |
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania | Private | brynmawr.edu |
| Haverford College |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1430-1540 ACT: 33-35 |
Haverford, Pennsylvania | Private | haverford.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
|
2 |
SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35 |
Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Associate's
|
2 | N/A | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Scottsdale Community College (SCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | scottsdalecc.edu |
| Cabrillo College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Aptos, California | Public | cabrillo.edu |
| Fullerton College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Fullerton, California | Public | fullcoll.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Glendale, California | Public | glendale.edu |
| Hartnell College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Salinas, California | Public | hartnell.edu |
| College of San Mateo (CSM) |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | San Mateo, California | Public | collegeofsanmateo.edu |
| Solano Community College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Fairfield, California | Public | welcome.solano.edu |
| Drake University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1190-1390 ACT: 24-30 |
Des Moines, Iowa | Private | drake.edu |
| Hampshire College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | Amherst, Massachusetts | Private | hampshire.edu |
| Harvard University |
Doctorate (R)
|
1 |
SAT: 1500-1580 ACT: 34-36 |
Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Stonehill College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | N/A | Easton, Massachusetts | Private | stonehill.edu |
| Wellesley College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1440-1550 ACT: 33-35 |
Wellesley, Massachusetts | Private | wellesley.edu |
| Barnard College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1453-1550 ACT: 32-34 |
New York, New York | Private | barnard.edu |
| Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1105-1350 ACT: 25-31 |
Delaware, Ohio | Private | owu.edu |
| University of Toledo (UToledo) |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1050-1300 ACT: 22-28 |
Toledo, Ohio | Public | utoledo.edu |
| Lee College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Baytown, Texas | Public | lee.edu |
| Snow College |
Associate's
|
1 | N/A | Ephraim, Utah | Public | snow.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1140-1340 ACT: 25-30 |
Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Whitman College |
Bachelor's
|
1 |
SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 27-33 |
Walla Walla, Washington | Private | whitman.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Astronomy programs
How much can I earn with a Astronomy degree?
Salaries for Astronomy graduates vary by role and location. Natural Sciences Managers earn a median of $161,180 annually, while Astronomers earn around $132,170. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in Massachusetts average $170,190 compared to $78,465 in Florida. Approximately 113,910 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Astronomy programs?
Currently 83 accredited institutions offer Astronomy degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include University of Colorado Boulder (CU) (63 graduates), University of Washington (UW), Seattle Campus (49 graduates), and Pennsylvania State University, Main Campus (48 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Astronomy growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 463 in 2010 to 876 in 2023-24. This represents a 89% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Astronomy degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Natural Sciences Managers, Astronomers, and Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 113,910 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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