Astronomy and Astrophysicsat The University of Texas at Austin
Graduates earn $29,404/yr in their first year — about 28.0% below the national Astronomy and Astrophysics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $396K; scenarios range from $398K to $383K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UT Austin
This is a deeply specialized field, and the financial data reflects that reality rather than a lack of academic rigor at a strong institution like UT Austin. The relatively lower earnings and absence of extensive early career data often indicate that many graduates pursue advanced degrees – particularly Ph.D.s – which are essential for most pure astronomy roles and can delay entry into high-earning positions. While UT's program, bolstered by the McDonald Observatory, is excellent for academic preparation, the undergraduate degree itself isn't a direct vocational pipeline into high-paying industry roles in Austin's tech-heavy economy.
The "Very High" AI risk stems from the field's heavy reliance on data analysis, modeling, and computational tasks, areas where AI is rapidly advancing and could automate aspects of research or even some observational work. To navigate this landscape and enhance your career prospects, actively pursue dual majors or minors in fields like computer science, data science, or engineering to build directly transferable skills that broaden your options beyond academia into tech, aerospace, or data analytics roles.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UT Austin's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Astronomy and Astrophysics
How UT Austin stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UT Austin
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UT Austin, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Astronomy and Astrophysics at UT Austin
What does a 22/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Astronomy and Astrophysics at The University of Texas at Austin?
At 22/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Astronomy and Astrophysics programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Astronomy and Astrophysics at The University of Texas at Austin?
The 52% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is The University of Texas at Austin a good choice for Astronomy and Astrophysics despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If The University of Texas at Austin's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.