Cheapest Astronomy and Astrophysics Colleges in Massachusetts

Williams College charges students just $14,852 net price for astronomy programs, despite listing $64,860 in full tuition costs. This gap reflects the college's substantial financial aid packages that make elite education accessible. Harvard follows closely at $16,816 net cost, while the only public option, UMass Amherst, sits at $23,691. Massachusetts hosts major observatories and research facilities like the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, creating direct pathways from classroom to career. The state's 13 programs range from $14,852 to $35,435 in actual student costs after aid.

Programs

$14,852 – $35,435

Net Price Range

84.1%

Avg. Graduation Rate

13 Astronomy and Astrophysics Programs

Program rankings
#	School	Net Price	In-State Tuition	Graduation Rate	Acceptance Rate
1	Williams College Williamstown, Massachusetts	$14,852	$64,860	96.6%	8.5%
2	Harvard University Cambridge, Massachusetts	$16,816	$59,076	97.3%	3.2%
3	Amherst College Amherst, Massachusetts	$18,246	$67,280	93.4%	7.3%
4	University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst, Massachusetts	$23,691	$17,357	83.2%	63.5%
5	Wellesley College Wellesley, Massachusetts	$25,008	$64,320	91.2%	13.6%
6	Hampshire College Amherst, Massachusetts	$25,810	$56,630	57.2%	68.9%
7	Smith College Northampton, Massachusetts	$26,181	$61,568	89.7%	22.9%
8	Boston University Boston, Massachusetts	$26,996	$65,168	90.0%	14.4%
9	Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, Massachusetts	$29,562	$64,142	85.0%	39.8%
10	Stonehill College Easton, Massachusetts	$29,969	$54,500	80.8%	73.4%
11	Suffolk University Boston, Massachusetts	$30,031	$45,380	59.8%	86.8%
12	Wheaton College (Massachusetts) Norton, Massachusetts	$30,934	$62,080	75.7%	79.5%
13	Tufts University Medford, Massachusetts	$35,435	$67,844	93.3%	9.7%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Williams College so affordable for astronomy students?

Williams meets 100% of demonstrated need through grants rather than loans, bringing the net price down to $14,852 from a sticker price of $64,860. The college maintains a $3.2 billion endowment that funds this generous aid program.

How does UMass Amherst compare to private colleges for astronomy costs?

UMass Amherst costs $23,691 net price, making it more expensive than Williams ($14,852) and Harvard ($16,816) after financial aid. However, in-state students pay only $17,357 in published tuition compared to $60,000+ at private schools.

Does graduation rate correlate with program cost in Massachusetts?

Hampshire College shows the lowest graduation rate at 57.2% despite charging $25,810 net price. Harvard achieves 97.3% graduation rates at $16,816, while Suffolk University graduates 59.8% of students at $30,031.

Where do astronomy graduates typically work in Massachusetts?

The Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics employs hundreds of researchers in Cambridge. MIT Lincoln Laboratory and companies like Raytheon hire astrophysics graduates for satellite technology and space systems development throughout the greater Boston area.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.