Astrophysics Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Astrophysics degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$124K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$183K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
1.9 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Astrophysics in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/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 Washington is approximately $124,100.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Astrophysics Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Astrophysics salary: $85,000 starting, $125,000 mid-career, $175,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Astrophysics ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Astrophysics degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$73,000
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
1.9 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$2,052,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($2,190,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Astrophysics in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Astrophysics
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Astrophysics in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Astrophysics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Astrophysics Job Titles
Other STEM Majors in Washington
Prompt Engineering
$73K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$139K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$124K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$128K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$120K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$117K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Astrophysics Degree in Washington — 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 Washington.