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Boulder, CO · Physics & astronomy

Physics & astronomy at University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder graduates about 158 physics & astronomy majors a year, 2% of its graduating class. That puts it 75th of 525 schools we score for physics & astronomy, a strong program at 79 out of 100. Graduates in the major earn a median $74,000 four years out, about the national figure for the same major. Research spending in the field runs about $157 million a year, a rough guide to how many labs and projects undergraduates can join.

79/100Strong#75 of 525 for physics & astronomy →
Graduates a year1582% of the class
Median pay 4 years out$74,0001.02× the same major nationally
Research in the field$157Ma year, NSF
Admit rate78%whole school
SAT middle 50%1160–1390whole school

Around University of Colorado Boulder

Eaton Humanities building in the Norlin Quadrangle Historic District
Woodbury Arts and Sciences buildingPhoto: Gribeco · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
The Clare Small Arts and Sciences Building at the University of Colorado Boulder
Clare Small Arts and Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder - 20250626123815Photo: Colohisto · CC BY 4.0 · source
Colorado Ave Boulder CO
Colorado Ave Boulder COPhoto: Madhava 1947 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Norlin Library, East side, University of Colorado at Boulder
Norlin Library, East sidePhoto: Kvng · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Where physics & astronomy happens

Buildings on campus that fit the field: Hale Science, Denison Arts and Sciences, Ekeley Sciences Building, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences Building, Woodbury Arts and Sciences, Hellems Arts and Sciences, Claire Small Arts and Sciences, Computer Science Department Wing, Ketchum Arts and Sciences Building, Joint Institute for Lab Astrophysics, Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics, Benson Earth Sciences.

Named buildings on the campus map: Academic 53 · Student housing 31 · Athletics 31 · Dorm 25 · Arts 8 · Offices 6.

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Nearby in the physics & astronomy ranking

  1. The Pennsylvania State University–University Park 81
  2. St. Olaf College 81
  3. Kenyon College 81
  4. University of Iowa 80
  5. Virginia Tech 79
  6. University of California, Davis 78
  7. University of Massachusetts–Amherst 77
  8. Stony Brook University–SUNY 77

Other strong majors at University of Colorado Boulder

How the score works

The score is out of 100 and compares University of Colorado Boulder with every school we score in physics & astronomy. It weighs the school's overall strength; how many students graduate in the major and what share of the class they are; research spending in the field (NSF); early pay against the same major nationally; how many courses the catalog lists; and test scores. 80+ is a standout program, 65+ strong, 45+ solid. Sources: US Department of Education (College Scorecard, IPEDS), NSF HERD, each school's current course catalog, OpenStreetMap and Wikimedia Commons.

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