# Astronomy and Astrophysics

> Astronomy and Astrophysics is a field of study in the Physical Sciences area.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/astronomy-and-astrophysics
- CIP code: 40.02 (Physical Sciences)
- Colleges offering it: 112 at its most common degree level

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Associate's | 34 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Bachelor's | 112 | $44,929 | $72,698 | $19,500 |
| Master's | 46 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Doctoral | 47 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $90,943 | $18,600 |
| [University of Colorado Boulder](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-colorado-boulder-main-campus-2899) | Boulder, CO | $72,698 | $19,108 |
| [The University of Texas at Austin](https://www.collegesref.com/college/the-university-of-texas-at-austin-main-campus-2764) | Austin, TX | $65,987 | not reported |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Physicists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physicists): $172,250 median pay
- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Astronomers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/astronomers): $128,820 median pay
- [Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/atmospheric-earth-marine-and-space-sciences-teachers-postsecondary): $103,170 median pay
- [Physics Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/physics-teachers-postsecondary): $100,310 median pay

## More in Physical Sciences

- [Chemistry](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/chemistry): 1,132 colleges
- [Physics](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physics): 772 colleges
- [Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/geological-and-earth-sciences-geosciences): 444 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-general): 127 colleges
- [Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/atmospheric-sciences-and-meteorology): 83 colleges
- [Materials Sciences](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/materials-sciences): 45 colleges
- [Physical Sciences, Other](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/physical-sciences-other): 37 colleges
- Physics and Astronomy: 3 colleges

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/