Interested in the Cosmos? Here Are the Best Colleges for Astrophysics Majors

Main image courtesy of NASA.

“We are all connected; To each other, biologically. To the earth, chemically. To the rest of the universe atomically.” - Neil deGrasse Tyson

It is crucial to understand that when deciding on what college to go to, that you choose the one where you will be the most comfortable. It does not have to be the best college for the major you want to study. However, if you want to know the best colleges for astrophysics, they are:

1. Yale University
2. Harvard University
3. Princeton University
4. Brown University
5. Columbia University
6. Rice University
7. Dartmouth University
8. University of Southern California
9. California University of Technology
10. Cornell University

Keep in mind that just because these are the best colleges for astrophysics, it does not mean that you cannot get a quality education by going to another college that is not on this list. At the end of the day, there are lots of factors that go into choosing the best college for you. Choose the best one for you with the program you want!

Why Major in Astrophysics?

Now why would you want to major in Astrophysics? You should major in astrophysics if you want to learn about the stars, galaxies, and planets in outer space. You will want to make sure you have an interest in space science as well. If you are someone who really enjoys astronomy and physics, then studying astrophysics may be the right choice for you. However, make sure when deciding on a college major to do research about what that major entails, that way you have an idea of what you are getting yourself into. 

Although you should not solely choose an astrophysics career just because you have an interest in space science. 

Make sure that if you have this interest to do some research into what it means to get a degree in astrophysics. If based on that research you do, astrophysics turns into something that you would not want to pursue a career in, at least you would know before enrolling in education for it. This interest can stay something that you are just interested in and does not have to be your career path. 

Some things to keep in mind when deciding whether or not to pursue a career in Astrophysics

As you consider whether to pursue a career in Astrophysics, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• The starting job titles and positions
• The responsibilities and day to day tasks
• The career progression
• The expected salary

Let’s take a closer look into the top 3 schools for astrophysics and see how they differ. This will give you a more clear understanding at what sets them apart. 

Yale University 

At Yale University there is a department specifically for astrophysics. They also pride themselves on treating others with respect, dignity, and professionalism. This is because they care about diversity.

Within the Astrophysics Department at Yale University there are eight fields of research that are:

1. Cosmology - this encompasses cosmological simulations, dark energy, dark matter, gravitational lensing, and large-scale structure
2. Exoplanets - this is extrasolar planets
3. Extragalactic Astronomy - this includes active galactic nuclei, galaxy clusters, galaxy structure, and formation & evolution
4. Galactic Astronomy - this encompasses galactic structure and kinematics
5. High Energy Astrophysics - this is about black holes and X-Ray binaries
6. Instrumentation - this involves the detailed detection and measuring tools used for astronomical observation
7. Solar and Stellar Astrophysics - this involves asteroseismology, helioseismology, solar structure, dynamics & activity, and stellar populations
8. Star Formation and Interstellar Medium (ISM) - this involves the study of atoms, molecules, and dust between the stars in the Milky Way - the ISM is the process of star formation and the related process of planet formation

There is also a separate distinguished section for undergraduate research. This includes an independent senior research project, along with a few other opportunities. This is not unique to just astrophysics majors at Yale. Every undergraduate major at Yale will complete an independent senior research project. These research projects are worked on under the supervision of a faculty member. 

Specifically for the astrophysics major, in recent years some of the undergraduate students have had the opportunity to analyze data from the Hubble Space Telescope as well as other space based observatories. They have also traveled to places such as Chile and Puerto Rico in order to perform observations with some of the best ground based instruments, as well as performed theoretical calculations with NASA supercomputers. These projects also need to be of publishable quality. 

This major involves quantitative physical science, which applies physics, mathematics, and statistical analysis to observing, describing, and modeling the universe. The undergraduate courses at Yale’s department of astronomy trains the students in research techniques as well as quantitative reasoning to develop creative problem solvers. The department of astrology at Yale offers a B.A. in Astronomy and a B.S. in Astrophysics. 

Harvard University 

The Department of Astronomy at Harvard University is located in the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The mission of the Center for Astrophysics (CFA) is to advance knowledge of the Universe through research in astronomy and astrophysics as well as in related areas of fundamental physics and geophysics. The way they accomplish this mission is by adhering to these values:

• Preeminence 
• Intellectual freedom
• Education
• Shared discovery
• Scientific breadth

The undergraduate astrophysics students at Harvard University get to enjoy small class sizes, the highest faculty to student ratio of all of the physical science departments, and the opportunity to travel to some remote astronomical observatories. The students here tend to pursue a joint concentration of Astrophysics with either Physics or Earth & Planetary Sciences. 

The Harvard University department of astronomy has a daily literature journal called Astrobites that summarizes new astrophysical research. Each piece is written by the graduate students for the undergraduate students. 

Princeton University

At Princeton University the astrophysics major is under the Department of Astrophysical Sciences, which has two divisions–-astronomy and plasma physics. Under the astronomy division there are undergraduate and graduate degrees. There is even a postdoctoral research program in this department. They pride themselves on offering an inclusive and equitable department climate. 

At Princeton the astronomy department has a long and distinguished history which includes an observatory on campus, which dates back to the mid-1800s. The department continues their tradition of leadership in theoretical and computational astrophysics, in survey astronomy and in instrumentation (in both the hardware and software). 

Careers In Astrophysics

There are numerous possibilities for career paths with an astrophysics degree. Here is an example of 6 astrophysics jobs:

1. University professor
2. Astrophysics technologist
3. Research physicist
4. Aeronautical engineer
5. Astrophotographer
6. Meteorologist

This list is just a few of the career paths that someone with an astrophysics degree can do. There are lots of other career paths, so do some research into other options for astrophysics majors. When deciding to major in astrophysics, or any or major for that matter, make sure to do some research into potential career paths for people with that degree. This way you will have some kind of idea of what your future may hold if you choose to get a degree in that field. 

A career in astrophysics will use automation and technology to help view the stars and planets. However, we as a society will want there to be as much humanly as possible reading what the automation and technology picks up. This is because when looking for a job a good thing to look for is job security, since automation is making its way into numerous industries. 

Conclusion

It is so important to major in the field you have an interest in and some skill in. Find the best school for you, where you will feel the most comfortable and at home. Do not just choose a school to apply to just because it is the best school for the field you want. Go on tours around the campus to really get a feel for how it will be like if you attend school there. 

These might be the top 10 best colleges for astrophysics, but that does not mean that getting an astrophysics degree at any other school would be a bad education. Each college is going to offer unique aspects that make them stand apart. This is why it is so crucial to choose the best one that meets your needs. Remember, you do not have to attend the best college for a specific major to have a good education. Choose the college where you will feel the best being on campus with the class sizes you want.