Astronomy Degree in Overland Park, KS — Salary & ROI 2026
Astronomy degree analysis for Overland Park, KS. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$52K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$91K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.9 yrs
in Overland Park
Cost of Living
103
index (100 = avg)
Astronomy in Overland Park, KS Overview
Overland Park, Kansas (pop. 197,238) has 13 colleges offering Astronomy programs. The local cost of living index of 103 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,092/month. Astronomy enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Astrophysics and Telescope Operation. The adjusted starting salary in Overland Park is approximately $51,500, growing to $90,640 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
13
Public Tuition
$3,564/yr
Private Tuition
$48,279/yr
Room & Board
$11,548/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,390/yr
Unemployment
6%
Graduation Rate
54%
Astronomy Salary in Overland Park (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Overland Park's cost of living index of 103 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astronomy salary: $50,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $110,000 senior level.Overland Park adjustment factor: 1.03x based on the local cost of living index.
Astronomy ROI Calculator for Overland Park
Estimate your return on investment for a Astronomy degree using local Overland Park tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $3,564 | Private avg: $48,279
Overland Park avg aid: $9,390/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$60,448
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,450
vs HS diploma in Overland Park
ROI Payback Period
3.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Overland Park
$454,552
Lifetime earnings premium ($515,000) minus total education cost ($60,448)
Student Loan Payoff for Astronomy in Overland Park
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Overland Park for Astronomy
Johnson County Community College
public
$3,564/yr
$14,256 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Johnson County Community College
$3,564/yr
Top Employers for Astronomy in Overland Park
Overland Park offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astronomy graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Overland Park Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Astronomy Job Titles
Astronomy in Nearby Kansas Cities
Wichita, KS
$52K starting · COL 104
20 colleges
Kansas City, KS
$41K starting · COL 82.5
6 colleges
Olathe, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.8
6 colleges
Topeka, KS
$42K starting · COL 84
14 colleges
Lawrence, KS
$54K starting · COL 108
5 colleges
Shawnee, KS
$43K starting · COL 86.5
3 colleges
Lenexa, KS
$48K starting · COL 96.2
3 colleges
Manhattan, KS
$48K starting · COL 95
6 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Overland Park
Prompt Engineering
$52K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$98K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$88K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$91K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$84K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$82K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$52K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astronomy Degree in Overland Park — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Astronomy ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Overland Park.