21 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in Minnesota

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Minnesota ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 1.31M citations received by 25.9K academic papers made by 21 universities in Minnesota 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. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#28 in the United States

#29 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

2. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Rochester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#67 in the United States

#77 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

3. Carleton College

Northfield

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#308 in the United States

#348 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,047

4. Macalester College

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#345 in the United States

#389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $40,225

5. Augsburg University

Minneapolis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#348 in the United States

#392 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $24,561
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $37,850

6. Saint Cloud State University

St. Cloud

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#449 in the United States

#499 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1143
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 87%

7. St Olaf College

Northfield

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#504 in the United States

#557 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $26,756

8. Minnesota State University - Mankato

Mankato

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#506 in the United States

#559 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $5,325

9. University of St Thomas - Minnesota

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#552 in the United States

#605 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1342
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $31,250

10. Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#715 in the United States

#777 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $8,674

11. Winona State University

Winona

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#734 in the United States

#798 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $5,375
Enrollment: 6,045

12. Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#747 in the United States

#811 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,094
Receiving Aid: 100%

13. Hamline University

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#769 in the United States

#833 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1262
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $22,390

14. Minnesota State University Moorhead

Moorhead

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#799 in the United States

#863 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $6,446

15. Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#800 in the United States

#865 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 86%
Average Aid: $8,538

16. Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#802 in the United States

#867 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,190
Receiving Aid: 100%

17. Bethel University - Minnesota

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#803 in the United States

#868 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $31,738

18. Capella University

Minneapolis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#815 in the United States

#881 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $17,199
Receiving Aid: 72%
Average Aid: $5,621

19. Walden University

Minneapolis

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#843 in the United States

#909 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $34,282
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,076

20. St Catherine University

Saint Paul

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#854 in the United States

#920 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 995
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $20,918

21. College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#866 in the United States

#932 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1141
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $28,400

Closest to Minnesota states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wisconsin	21	19
Iowa	11	53
South Dakota	7	239
North Dakota	3	206
Michigan	21	8
Nebraska	7	93
Illinois	36	10
Missouri	16	44
Kansas	10	82
Indiana	20	33
Ohio	35	21
Kentucky	13	68
Oklahoma	9	71
Colorado	14	20
Montana	4	109
Arkansas	9	142
Tennessee	20	63
West Virginia	6	107
Pennsylvania	64	12
Mississippi	7	161
New York	85	9
Virginia	29	36
Idaho	4	171
District of Columbia	8	101
Utah	6	50
Alabama	16	91
Maryland	18	14
North Carolina	25	45
Louisiana	17	64
New Mexico	6	69
Vermont	4	169
Georgia	25	32
New Jersey	18	6
South Carolina	14	97
Texas	53	15
Connecticut	18	22
New Hampshire	8	75
Massachusetts	48	4
Rhode Island	6	51
Maine	7	202
Arizona	5	7
Washington	16	11
Oregon	14	74
Florida	27	29
California	73	1
Alaska	3	117
Puerto Rico	6	305
Hawaii	4	61

Physics subfields in Minnesota

Acoustical Engineering18

Astrobiology3

Atomic and Molecular physics6

Condensed Matter Physics7

Optical Engineering19

Quantum and Particle physics25

Theoretical Physics5