U.S. median for this major: $69,728.
College Scorecard field of study; 35 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 31% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $23,501.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $37,684. College Scorecard.
CU Astronomy and Astrophysics: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Fewer than 3 Colorado colleges report earnings for this major, so there is no state median.
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
Astronomy and Astrophysics nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses CU's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $14,231 | $60,624 | 1.9 years |
| $30–48k | $14,381 | $61,263 | 1.9 years |
| $48–75k | $18,828 | $80,207 | 2.5 years |
| $75–110k | $26,915 | $114,658 | 3.6 years |
| $110k+ | $34,818 | $148,325 | 4.6 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.3 years, the average time graduates took (58% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates 4 years after graduating ($72,698) minus $40,610 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in CO (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $32,088 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
Careers for Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates
Natural Sciences Managers
Median annual wage, all workers. U.S. jobs +8.2% by 2035. Typical entry: bachelor's degree.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35. Careers from the federal major-to-occupation crosswalk.
What families pay at CU, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About CU
- Acceptance rate: 78% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 74% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $69,738
- Full cost breakdown · all 68 majors · overview
Related majors at CU
- Physics$75,764
- Chemistry—
- Geology / Earth Science$60,453
- Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology—
CU Astronomy and Astrophysics questions
How much do CU Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates earn?
Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn a median $72,698 four years after graduating and $45,066 one year after. The U.S. median for Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates across 4 colleges is $69,728.
How much debt do CU Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates of University of Colorado Boulder is $22,324, about 31% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $23,501.
Where does CU rank for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Colorado?
Of 1 Colorado colleges reporting Astronomy and Astrophysics graduate earnings, University of Colorado Boulder ranks 1st, the highest.
What jobs do Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates get?
A common career is natural sciences managers, with a median wage of $210,340 in the Boulder, CO area and $167,220 nationally.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy and Astrophysics: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/university-of-colorado-boulder/majors/astronomy-and-astrophysics (College Scorecard and BLS data).