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Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
46 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $54,746/yr (35% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (52% exposed)
Job Market Medium (12,600 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (3.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 6 Astronomy and Astrophysics programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $588K $576K $529K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.9x 9.7x 8.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.2x 3.2x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 70% 62% 45%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 46 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (3.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
4.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates of University of California-Berkeley's Astronomy and Astrophysics program earn $54,746/yr in their first year — 35% above the $40,590 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.7x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Astronomy and Astrophysics's typical career paths, with 52% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $19,500 in median debt against $54,746 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

This program is one of 6 schools offering Astronomy and Astrophysics in our dataset — a specialized field with limited comparison points.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley admits 12% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, one of the larger campuses at 33,073 students in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

Top Career Paths

Physicists $166,290/yr
Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr
Astronomers $132,170/yr
View all 5 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 6 schools offering Astronomy and Astrophysics →

Astronomy and Astrophysics at Other Schools

University of Wisconsin-Madison ($45,783) University of Colorado Boulder ($45,066) University of California-Santa Cruz ($35,171) Michigan State University ($33,373) The University of Texas at Austin ($29,404)

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

Computer Science ($149,866) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($137,295) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($90,008) Operations Research ($88,685) Mechanical Engineering ($88,497) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($88,030) Statistics ($83,227) Chemical Engineering ($81,553)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of California-Berkeley?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Astronomy and Astrophysics careers?
With 52% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $529,180 in decade earnings vs $587,863 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →