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Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,066/yr (11% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (52% exposed)

Job Market Medium (12,600 openings/yr)

ROI 9.1x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #1 of 6 Astronomy and Astrophysics programs Top 25%

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	$614K	$599K	$546K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.3x	9.1x	8.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.7x	3.6x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	70%	62%	45%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$65,720

Out-of-state: $167,772 (3.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$85,920

-31% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,122

38% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Colorado Boulder's Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates start at $45,066/yr — above the $40,590 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.1x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $45,066 in annual earnings.

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

Earnings grow from $45,066 to $62,122 over five years — a 38% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Colorado Boulder

A 83% acceptance rate means University of Colorado Boulder is accessible to most applicants, with 31,578 students enrolled in Boulder, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →

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

Astronomy and Astrophysics at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Colorado Boulder

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Colorado Boulder?

A score of 47/100 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 $545,644 in decade earnings vs $613,510 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of Colorado Boulder's Astronomy and Astrophysics program stand out?

Ranked #1 of 6 programs nationally, University of Colorado Boulder lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →