Location: East Lansing, MI•In-State Tuition: $15,988•Out-of-State Tuition: $43,372•Admission Rate: 84%•Avg SAT: 1261
Median Earnings (1yr)
$33,373
22nd percentile
Est. Median Debt
$21,412
Est. from national median (8 programs)
Sample: 16 graduates Limited data

Where Michigan State University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all astronomy and astrophysics bachelors's programs nationally

Michigan State University (estimated ±10%)Other astronomy and astrophysics programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Earnings Distribution

How Michigan State University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Michigan State University earns $33k — 22th percentile among astronomy and astrophysics bachelors programs.

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

Astronomy and Astrophysics bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Michigan State UniversityEast Lansing$15,988$33,373—$21,412*—
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley$14,850$54,746—$19,500*0.36
University of Wisconsin-MadisonMadison$11,205$45,783—$19,500*0.43
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder$16,430$45,066$50,573$22,324*0.50
University of California-Santa CruzSanta Cruz$14,560$35,171—$20,500*0.58
The University of Texas at AustinAustin$11,678$29,404—$25,250*0.86
National Median—$40,118—$23,787*0.59
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with astronomy and astrophysics graduates

Astronomers

Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.

$166,290/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Physicists

Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

$166,290/yrJobs growth:Doctoral or professional degree

Natural Sciences Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields.

$161,180/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in the physical sciences, except chemistry and physics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching, and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Physics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses pertaining to the laws of matter and energy. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:
About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Michigan State University, approximately 20% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 16 graduates with reported earnings and 18 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.