Astronomy and Astrophysicsat University of Colorado Boulder
Graduates earn $45,066/yr in their first year — about 11.0% above the national Astronomy and Astrophysics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $599K; scenarios range from $546K to $614K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Colorado Boulder
CU Boulder's program benefits immensely from its location within a major aerospace and scientific research hub. Your earnings potential reflects strong connections to institutions like LASP, NCAR, NOAA, and industry giants such as Lockheed Martin and Ball Aerospace, which actively recruit graduates for roles spanning data analysis, systems engineering, and research & development. Unlike many niche fields, Boulder offers a vibrant ecosystem that diversifies career paths beyond academia, into federal labs and private sector innovation. While the core discipline faces significant AI integration, your success hinges on developing robust computational and data science skills. Actively pursue internships and research assistantships to apply your theoretical knowledge, building a portfolio of practical experience that is highly sought after by employers looking for sophisticated problem-solvers.
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 University of Colorado Boulder'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 University of Colorado Boulder stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Colorado Boulder
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Colorado Boulder, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Astronomy and Astrophysics at University of Colorado Boulder
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.