Astronomy and Astrophysics bachelor's degree at University of Colorado Boulder
Boulder, CO · Public
What this page covers
Federal data group related majors at the same college and degree level. One record can include several named programs or concentrations.
The short version
Reported earnings are close to similar programs.
$4,365 above the national median for the same field and degree level.
Debt as a share of earnings
30.7% of annual earnings
Highest price with a positive payoff
$24,245 / year
Modeled 10-year payoff
−2% · Negative payoff
Available price data
College-wide context only
PRICE SENSITIVITY
The price can change the verdict.
Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.
← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →
$0Annual price+$96,980
$8,000Annual price+$64,980
$16,000Annual price+$32,980
$24,000Annual price+$980
$25,000Current college-wide context−$3,020
$32,000Annual price−$31,020
$40,000Annual price−$63,020
OUTCOME SIGNALS
Graduate outcomes from several angles.
Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.
+38%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$45,066 → $62,122Not availableEarn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort20Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort27Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median55Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median$76,676Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credentialNot availableRecent awardsIPEDS 2024–25 first-major completions in this field and credential
NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT
Size, aid and an earnings floor.
The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.
281Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment33Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers112Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count185Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count
5.7%Federal-aid non-completion rate2022–23 program cohort · 15 non-completers30Graduates not recorded as employedHistorical federal cohort, three years after completion
Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$39,174Informational preview, not a final accountability result
Observed year-4 earnings$72,698$33,524 above the preliminary benchmark
Additional borrowing reported for this category: 38 Parent PLUS borrowers.
Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student. Completion and employment measures use older cohorts shown above and are not combined into the payoff estimate.
01 · PRICE CONTEXT$25,346
Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.
02 · BORROWING$22,324
Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.
03 · EARNINGS$72,698
Observed median earnings four full years after completion.
04 · REPAYMENT$237/mo
Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.
WHAT WILL IT COST?
Published college costs provide the starting point.
Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.
Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.
$45,066Year 1
$72,698Year 4
$62,122Year 5
CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?
3.9% of gross monthly earnings
Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.
Gross monthly earnings$6,058
Estimated loan payment$237
55borrowers represented where reported
HOW DOES IT COMPARE?
$72,698 vs. $68,333
$4,365 above the national median for the same field and credential.
Same-field national median
WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?
Related occupations, wages and outlook.
Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.
BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.
Natural Sciences Managers$152,730 median wageCO estimate · 1,640 jobs · 11-9121$121,090–$210,340 middle 50% of CO wages+8.2% projected U.S. growth · 9,200 openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeAstronomers$128,820 median wageU.S. estimate · 2,120 jobs · 19-2011+7.8% projected U.S. growth · 100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreeAtmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary$79,190 median wageCO estimate · 340 jobs · 25-1051$56,050–$111,150 middle 50% of CO wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 800 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePhysicists$104,580 median wageCO estimate · 1,050 jobs · 19-2012$82,340–$168,240 middle 50% of CO wages+7.2% projected U.S. growth · 1,300 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePhysics Teachers, Postsecondary$99,280 median wageCO estimate · 280 jobs · 25-1054$69,660–$128,450 middle 50% of CO wages+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 1,100 openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
CENSUS EMPLOYMENT DESTINATIONS
Where graduates work five years later
The leading industries employing graduates in this college, broad field and credential group.
01
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
about 34.0%02
Educational Services
about 15.5%03
Manufacturing
about 11.2%04
Retail Trade
about 5.5%05
Health Care and Social Assistance
about 4.8%
Possible alternatives
Same degree, stronger on at least one reported measure.
Every option below reports higher earnings, lower federal debt or a lower college-wide net price. Same-state options appear first.
Berkeley, CA
University of California, Berkeley
$18,245 higher earnings · $2,824 less debt · $11,865 lower annual net price