48 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 6.43M citations received by 119K academic papers made by 48 universities in Massachusetts was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#4 in the United States

#4 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

2. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#5 in the United States

#5 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

3. Boston University

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#41 in the United States

#44 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#49 in the United States

#53 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

5. Tufts University

Medford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#78 in the United States

#89 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

6. Northeastern University

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#96 in the United States

#110 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

7. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#125 in the United States

#145 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

8. Boston College

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#131 in the United States

#151 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

9. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#154 in the United States

#177 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

10. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#184 in the United States

#211 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

11. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#192 in the United States

#220 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

12. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#229 in the United States

#261 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

13. Williams College

Williamstown

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#241 in the United States

#274 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

14. Clark University

Worcester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#248 in the United States

#282 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

15. Amherst College

Amherst

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#263 in the United States

#299 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

16. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#291 in the United States

#330 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

17. Smith College

Northampton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#293 in the United States

#332 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

18. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#294 in the United States

#333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

19. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#333 in the United States

#376 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

20. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#337 in the United States

#380 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

21. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#457 in the United States

#508 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 163
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1921

22. Babson College

Wellesley

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#496 in the United States

#549 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $32,019

23. Bentley University

Waltham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#505 in the United States

#558 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

24. Stonehill College

Easton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#518 in the United States

#571 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $33,385
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $39,344

25. Suffolk University

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#524 in the United States

#577 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

26. Framingham State University

Framingham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#584 in the United States

#638 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1190
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $11,338

27. Emmanuel College

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#586 in the United States

#640 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1255
Net Price: $31,121
Receiving Aid: 100%

28. Bay State College

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#588 in the United States

#642 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $43,020
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $10,243

29. Fisher College

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#603 in the United States

#657 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $28,596
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $25,379

30. Simmons University

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#605 in the United States

#659 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

31. New England College of Optometry

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#621 in the United States

#677 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 515
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1894

32. Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#629 in the United States

#687 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $30,701

33. Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#631 in the United States

#689 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,604

34. Hampshire College

Amherst

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#637 in the United States

#695 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $27,895
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $46,145

35. Newbury College

Brookline

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#670 in the United States

#731 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,613
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,393

36. Dean College

Franklin

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#703 in the United States

#765 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $32,085
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,958

37. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#704 in the United States

#766 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

38. Western New England University

Springfield

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#706 in the United States

#768 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,056

39. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#758 in the United States

#822 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1526
Net Price: $43,184
Receiving Aid: 100%

40. Springfield College

Springfield

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#806 in the United States

#872 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,039

41. MCPHS University

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#813 in the United States

#879 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1288
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,506

42. Endicott College

Beverly

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#814 in the United States

#880 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1267
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,394

43. Merrimack College

North Andover

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#842 in the United States

#908 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $38,504
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,550

44. MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#848 in the United States

#914 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,672
Male:Female: 14:86
Founded: 1977

45. Regis College

Weston

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#850 in the United States

#916 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $28,575
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $37,193

46. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#858 in the United States

#924 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,045
Enrollment: 896

47. Worcester State University

Worcester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#878 in the United States

#946 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1155
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,464

48. Salem State University

Salem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#890 in the United States

#958 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	6	51
Connecticut	18	22
New Hampshire	8	75
Vermont	4	169
New York	85	9
New Jersey	18	6
Maine	7	202
Pennsylvania	64	12
Maryland	18	14
District of Columbia	8	101
Virginia	29	36
West Virginia	6	107
Ohio	35	21
North Carolina	25	45
Michigan	21	8
South Carolina	14	97
Indiana	20	33
Kentucky	13	68
Tennessee	20	63
Wisconsin	21	19
Georgia	25	32
Illinois	36	10
Alabama	16	91
Iowa	11	53
Missouri	16	44
Florida	27	29
Minnesota	21	28
Mississippi	7	161
Arkansas	9	142
Louisiana	17	64
Kansas	10	82
South Dakota	7	239
North Dakota	3	206
Nebraska	7	93
Oklahoma	9	71
Puerto Rico	6	305
Texas	53	15
Colorado	14	20
Montana	4	109
New Mexico	6	69
Utah	6	50
Idaho	4	171
Arizona	5	7
Washington	16	11
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Alaska	3	117
Hawaii	4	61