Astronomy · University of Colorado Boulder
How much do University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy graduates earn?
University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy and Astrophysics earned a median $72,698 four years after graduating, 6% above the $68,333 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $45,066; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $21,500 in federal loans at this college (about $228 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Median earnings, 4 years after:
- $72,698
- National median, same program:
- $68,333
- Federal debt borrowed at this college (median):
- $21,500
- Monthly payment, 10-year plan:
- $228
University of Colorado Boulder, bachelor's in Astronomy. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. College Scorecard, 10 June 2026.
Quick answers
- What do Astronomy graduates of University of Colorado Boulder earn?
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy earned a median $72,698 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How much federal debt do Astronomy graduates of University of Colorado Boulder have?
- Graduates who borrowed took out a median $21,500 in federal loans at University of Colorado Boulder (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
- How does University of Colorado Boulder compare with the national median for Astronomy?
- $72,698 is 6% above the $68,333 national median for bachelor's programs in the same field (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- Is a Astronomy degree from University of Colorado Boulder worth it?
- Federal data cannot decide that for you, but it puts the figures side by side: University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy earned a median $72,698 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23), and those who borrowed took out a median $21,500 in federal loans there, about $228 a month on a 10-year plan, roughly 4% of the median graduate's monthly earnings before tax (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
Astronomy at University of Colorado Boulder, by credential
One credential level has federal figures. Federal program group: Astronomy and Astrophysics (CIP 40.02), which includes its related specialties.
| Credential | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings, 1 yr after | Earnings, 4 yrs after | vs national | Debt borrowed at this college | Total debt incl. other colleges | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 134 | $45,066 | $72,698 | +6% | $21,500 | $22,324 | $228/mo |
The one-year and four-year figures describe different graduating classes (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21 and 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23) in different dollars, so the gap between them is not one class's pay growth. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure because too few graduates were measured.
What the two debt figures mean
Federal debt borrowed at this college: the median of the federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) that graduates who borrowed took out at this college.
Total federal debt, including other colleges attended: the same graduates' federal loans from every college they attended, counting only loans at the same level as this credential (undergraduate loans for an undergraduate credential, graduate loans for a graduate one).
Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN. Monthly payment is for the debt borrowed at this college. Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation (September 2025), "Cumulative loan debt".
Cite this data
- Statistic
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy earned a median $72,698 four years after graduating, against a national median of $68,333 for the same program and credential.
- Data period
- Graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19 who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled; earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (35 graduates measured).
- Source
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data (release of 10 June 2026)
- Page
- https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-colorado-boulder/programs/astronomy
- Suggested citation
- CampusPin (2026). University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy: graduate earnings and debt. Data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study, 10 June 2026. https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-colorado-boulder/programs/astronomy
Or paste these figures into your page as a small table (departments, admissions, counselors)
Plain HTML with no script and no tracking: each credential's figure with its period and source, and one link back to this page.
Questions about Astronomy at University of Colorado Boulder
- How much do University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy graduates earn?
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy and Astrophysics earned a median $72,698 four years after graduating, 6% above the $68,333 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $45,066; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $21,500 in federal loans at this college (about $228 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much student debt do University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy graduates have?
- University of Colorado Boulder's bachelor's graduates in Astronomy who borrowed took out a median $21,500 in federal loans at University of Colorado Boulder, about $228 a month on a standard 10-year plan (graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20, College Scorecard). Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN.
Keep going
- University of Colorado Boulder: cost, admissions and every program
- Astronomy major guide: what it pays nationally
- Same degree, different paycheck: how much the college matters
- What does Astronomy pay at other colleges?
Jobs Astronomy graduates often go into
From the Astronomymajor guide. Graduates spread across many jobs; these pay figures are for everyone in the job, not for this program's graduates.
Other programs at University of Colorado Boulder with graduate earnings
- Conservation Science
- Communications
- Journalism
- Computer Science
- Aerospace Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- English & Literature
- Physiology
- Mathematics
- Geology
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Music
- Business Administration
- History
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Earnings reflect who enrolls, where graduates live and the jobs they take, as well as the program itself. Download every program (CSV).
Data sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study file, matched to University of Colorado Boulder by its federal UNITID.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
Program-level median earnings one and four years after completing, and median federal loan debt at completion, by institution, 4-digit CIP field and credential level.
College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation
How the field-of-study cohorts are built, which graduates are counted, and how small cells are suppressed and perturbed for privacy.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (10 June 2026). University of Colorado Boulder Astronomy: graduate earnings and debt. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/university-of-colorado-boulder/programs/astronomy