Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates from University of California-Santa Cruz earn $35,171 median salary — below the national average for this program. Median debt: $20,400.
Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of California-Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of California-Santa Cruz
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for University of California-Santa Cruz and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for Astronomy and Astrophysics at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 50 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at University of California-Santa Cruz, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $35,171 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $50,482 across all institutions offering Astronomy and Astrophysics, graduates here earn below the national average for this program. Across all programs at University of California-Santa Cruz, the mean median-earnings figure is $64,468, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates at University of California-Santa Cruz is $20,400, which translates to roughly $170 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
Astronomy and Astrophysics at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| University of California-Berkeley | $90,943 | $19,500 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | $72,698 | $21,500 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus | $66,759 | $24,614 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | $65,987 | — |
| The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | $43,798 | — |
| University of California-Santa Cruz (this school) | $35,171 | $20,400 |
| Michigan State University | $33,373 | — |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | $26,353 | $20,000 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | $19,258 | — |
| University of Arizona | — | $25,191 |
Other Programs at University of California-Santa Cruz
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Engineering | $124,641 | $23,434 |
| Computer Science | $123,422 | $16,499 |
| Computer Engineering | $120,756 | — |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $118,290 | $16,796 |
| Economics | $110,425 | — |
| Biomedical/Medical Engineering | $98,567 | $23,000 |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management | $94,589 | $20,020 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $88,305 | $18,959 |
| Business/Managerial Economics | $82,064 | $16,519 |
| Economics | $76,382 | $18,017 |
View all 45 programs at University of California-Santa Cruz →
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.