Overview

The Astronomy and Astrophysics program at Pennsylvania State University involves development of instrumentation, observations of celestial objects with ground- and space-based telescopes, and interpretation of findings using the mathematical laws of physics such as gravity, electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.

The undergraduate major provides a strong and broad foundation in mathematics, physical science and computation as well as a detailed understanding of modern astronomy.

Many research opportunities are available to complement the formal classwork. Graduates proceed to advanced degrees in astronomy and other sciences, and into a wide variety of technical professions.

Careers

Many of our alumni pursue graduate education in astrophysics after completing our undergraduate degree. Students apply to enter PhD programs in astrophysics in the fall of their senior year.
Some students choose to do graduate work in related fields such as physics, geoscience / planetary science, ecology, or engineering.
Other students have successfully pursued master’s degrees in education in order to earn teaching certification to teach physics or Earth and space science.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Astronomical Universe
The Sky and Planets
Elementary Astronomy Laboratory
Astronomical Methods and the Solar System
Astronomy of the Distant Universe
General Physics: Wave Motion and Quantum Physics

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 48 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-01-12 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-10-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-05-18 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00
Starting 2026-08-25 00:00:00
- Apply before 2025-11-01 00:00:00

Language

English

IELTS

6.5

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TOEFL^® IBT

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Duolingo English Test

120

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Credits

125 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

University Park, United States

Disciplines

Physics Astronomy & Space Sciences View 227 other Bachelors in Astronomy & Space Sciences in United States

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

IELTS

6.5

Free IELTS Mock Tests!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

Duolingo English Test

120

Take A Free Practice Test!

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Other requirements

General requirements

Application
Official secondary school records
Official test scores: SAT or ACT
English language proficiency, if your native language is not English

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
Liability
Home contents and baggage
Accidents
Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Pennsylvania State University and/or in United States, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees

International

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
National

43490 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 43490 USD per year during 48 months.
In-State

21098 USD/year

Tuition Fee

Based on the tuition of 21098 USD per year during 48 months.

Living costs for University Park

1000 - 1500 USD /month

Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Astronomy and Astrophysics.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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