Best Colleges for Astronomy and Astrophysics

If you have a brilliant scientific mind that has always been fixated on topics along the lines of black holes, dark matter, and extraterrestrial life then there may just be a college program for you. Sometimes offered as a solo Astronomy & Astrophysics major (i.e. Michigan), other times as an Astronomy-Physics double-major (i.e. UVA), and other times as a concentration area within the Astronomy department (i.e. BU), this rigorous major will take undergraduates through advanced study of mathematics, physics, astronomy, and chemistry. Many graduates of Astronomy & Astrophysics programs go on to complete graduate studies and those with PhDs hold research positions at universities or at government agencies like NASA. Others pursue jobs in computing where their skills prove quite useful, including at tech-giants like Google, Facebook, or Microsoft. Our list of Best College for Astrophysics & Astronomy will help you navigate through the infinite universe of the higher education search process and discover the perfect academic galaxy to call home.

Click the links below for more information about each college’s astronomy program. Click here to read our methodology.

Amherst College

Boston University

California Institute of Technology

Columbia University

Cornell University

Harvard University

Haverford College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northwestern University

Penn State University

Princeton University

Rice University

Swarthmore College

University of Arizona

University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Santa Cruz

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Maryland

University of Michigan

University of Texas at Austin

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Wesleyan University

Williams College

Yale University