Astrophysics Degree in Phoenix, AZ — Salary & ROI 2026
Astrophysics degree analysis for Phoenix, AZ. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$129K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$190K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.4 yrs
in Phoenix
Cost of Living
152
index (100 = avg)
Astrophysics in Phoenix, AZ Overview
Phoenix is one of Arizona's top college towns, with 72 institutions and a student population of 118,169. Public tuition averages $12,467/year here — near the national average for public universities. Astrophysics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Cosmology and Spectroscopy. The adjusted starting salary in Phoenix is approximately $129,200.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
72
Public Tuition
$12,467/yr
Private Tuition
$22,100/yr
Room & Board
$14,782/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,630/yr
Unemployment
4.4%
Graduation Rate
53%
Astrophysics Salary in Phoenix (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Phoenix's cost of living index of 152 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astrophysics salary: $85,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Phoenix adjustment factor: 1.52x based on the local cost of living index.
Astrophysics ROI Calculator for Phoenix
Estimate your return on investment for a Astrophysics degree using local Phoenix tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,467 | Private avg: $22,100
Phoenix avg aid: $8,630/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$108,996
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$76,000
vs HS diploma in Phoenix
ROI Payback Period
1.4 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Phoenix
$2,171,004
Lifetime earnings premium ($2,280,000) minus total education cost ($108,996)
Student Loan Payoff for Astrophysics in Phoenix
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Phoenix for Astrophysics
Arizona State University
public
$12,467/yr
$49,868 total
Grand Canyon University
private
$17,800/yr
$71,200 total
University of Advancing Technology
private
$26,400/yr
$105,600 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Maricopa Community Colleges
$2,580/yr
Top Employers for Astrophysics in Phoenix
Phoenix offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astrophysics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Phoenix Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Astrophysics Job Titles
Astrophysics in Nearby Arizona Cities
Tucson, AZ
$99K starting · COL 116
24 colleges
Mesa, AZ
$94K starting · COL 110
31 colleges
Chandler, AZ
$105K starting · COL 124
22 colleges
Gilbert, AZ
$101K starting · COL 119
26 colleges
Glendale, AZ
$89K starting · COL 105
16 colleges
Scottsdale, AZ
$107K starting · COL 126
16 colleges
Peoria, AZ
$88K starting · COL 103.8
7 colleges
Tempe, AZ
$96K starting · COL 113
5 colleges
Other STEM Majors in Phoenix
Prompt Engineering
$76K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$144K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$129K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$134K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$125K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$122K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$76K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics Degree in Phoenix — 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 Astrophysics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Phoenix.