64 Best colleges for Astrophysics and Astronomy in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Pennsylvania ranked based on their research performance in Astrophysics and Astronomy. A graph of 4.46M citations received by 92.3K academic papers made by 64 universities in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#12 in the United States

#12 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#26 in the United States

#27 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#37 in the United States

#40 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#40 in the United States

#43 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

5. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#87 in the United States

#99 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

6. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#118 in the United States

#138 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

7. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#140 in the United States

#162 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

8. Villanova University

Villanova

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#148 in the United States

#171 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

9. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#177 in the United States

#204 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

10. Haverford College

Haverford

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#180 in the United States

#207 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,535

11. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#209 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

12. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#240 in the United States

#273 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

13. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#270 in the United States

#307 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,469

14. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#280 in the United States

#318 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,003

15. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#297 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1387
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,987

16. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#319 in the United States

#360 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,917

17. Lafayette College

Easton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#320 in the United States

#361 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,442

18. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#390 in the United States

#438 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $33,221

19. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#394 in the United States

#442 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,769

20. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#395 in the United States

#443 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1266
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,420

21. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#415 in the United States

#463 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

22. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#433 in the United States

#482 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $29,948
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,493

23. Pennsylvania State University - Penn State Scranton

Dunmore

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#488 in the United States

#540 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1185
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,089

24. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#499 in the United States

#552 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,483

25. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#503 in the United States

#556 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1239
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,234

26. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#527 in the United States

#580 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,863
Enrollment: 1,784

27. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#529 in the United States

#582 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,528
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $21,913

28. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#536 in the United States

#589 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $34,739

29. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#553 in the United States

#606 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $6,347
Enrollment: 7,500

30. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#556 in the United States

#609 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

31. Widener University

Chester

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#559 in the United States

#612 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1185
Net Price: $26,778
Receiving Aid: 100%

32. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#565 in the United States

#619 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $24,108

33. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#574 in the United States

#628 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,205

34. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#591 in the United States

#645 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1215
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,420

35. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#592 in the United States

#646 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,444

36. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#594 in the United States

#648 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

37. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#596 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1115
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,143

38. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#614 in the United States

#669 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1170
Net Price: $23,689
Receiving Aid: 100%

39. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#630 in the United States

#688 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,511

40. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#644 in the United States

#703 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $28,588
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,590

41. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#654 in the United States

#713 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $18,069
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,880

42. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#655 in the United States

#714 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $27,422
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,838

43. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#673 in the United States

#734 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

44. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#683 in the United States

#745 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,096

45. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#695 in the United States

#757 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $20,394
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,553

46. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#708 in the United States

#770 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $6,756

47. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#718 in the United States

#780 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,580

48. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#727 in the United States

#790 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1165
Net Price: $30,037
Receiving Aid: 99%

49. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#751 in the United States

#815 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1293
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $32,158

50. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#755 in the United States

#819 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,384
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $2,461

51. Elizabethtown College

Elizabethtown

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#763 in the United States

#827 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1208
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $27,760

52. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#792 in the United States

#856 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,901
Male:Female: 36:64

53. Messiah College

Mechanicsburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#793 in the United States

#857 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,408

54. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#797 in the United States

#861 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $28,326

55. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#807 in the United States

#873 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,280

56. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#822 in the United States

#888 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $5,524
Enrollment: 4,319

57. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#831 in the United States

#897 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 890
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,750

58. Gannon University

Erie

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#857 in the United States

#923 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $23,123
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $29,799

59. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#871 in the United States

#938 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $22,702
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,152

60. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#880 in the United States

#948 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,106
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

61. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#881 in the United States

#949 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Net Price: $23,933
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $27,629

62. University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#896 in the United States

#964 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $27,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,369

63. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#900 in the United States

#968 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,133
Male:Female: 42:58

64. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Astrophysics and Astronomy

#919 in the United States

#987 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $15,984
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,706

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Astrophysics and Astronomy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	18	14
District of Columbia	8	101
New Jersey	18	6
New York	85	9
West Virginia	6	107
Connecticut	18	22
Virginia	29	36
Ohio	35	21
Massachusetts	48	4
Rhode Island	6	51
Vermont	4	169
New Hampshire	8	75
North Carolina	25	45
Indiana	20	33
Kentucky	13	68
Michigan	21	8
South Carolina	14	97
Maine	7	202
Tennessee	20	63
Illinois	36	10
Georgia	25	32
Wisconsin	21	19
Alabama	16	91
Iowa	11	53
Missouri	16	44
Mississippi	7	161
Minnesota	21	28
Arkansas	9	142
Florida	27	29
Louisiana	17	64
Kansas	10	82
South Dakota	7	239
Nebraska	7	93
Oklahoma	9	71
North Dakota	3	206
Texas	53	15
Colorado	14	20
New Mexico	6	69
Montana	4	109
Puerto Rico	6	305
Utah	6	50
Idaho	4	171
Arizona	5	7
Washington	16	11
Oregon	14	74
California	73	1
Alaska	3	117
Hawaii	4	61