Thanks to Madison LeBlanc (Georgia State), Grace Krahm (Ohio State), and Mai Le (post-baccalaureate researcher, ISLANDS Lab) for most of these links. Deadlines shift each year, so please check the program pages.
Undergraduate Summer Research
AAS Internships & Summer Jobs
Updated all year. Start here.
View List →NSF REU Sites: Astronomy
Every NSF-funded astronomy REU. Most apply through NSF ETAP.
Browse Sites →Pathways to Science
All of STEM, filtered to astronomy.
Search Directory →Graduate School
PhD Program Admissions, 2026-27
AAS survey of 150+ programs: admitting, admitting fewer, or paused.
Open Spreadsheet →GRE Requirements & Application Fees
GRE policy, fees, and fee waivers by program. Updated September 2026.
Open Spreadsheet →Read the Astrobites grad school guide first. The AAS Virtual Grad Fair is every September. Register early.
Application timeline
- Summer beforePick your list. Start the GRFP.
- Early fallDraft your statement. Ask for letters.
- Late fallFinalize. Take exams if still required.
- December to JanuarySubmit. Most deadlines land here.
- February to MarchInterviews, offers, visits.
- April 15Common acceptance deadline.
Post-bac and Funded Master's
| Program | Deadline | Funding | Eligibility / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUNY MS Astrophysics | Mid-April | Full tuition, stipend, healthcare, relocation | No GRE, holistic review. 2 years, NYC |
| Wesleyan MA Astronomy | February 1 | Tuition remission + 9-month stipend for most full-time students | No GRE. Small program, Van Vleck Observatory |
| New Mexico State MS Astronomy | December 15 | TA at 20 hrs/week; NM Space Grant $10,000 | Thesis or coursework track. Apache Point access |
| San Diego State MS Astronomy | Check current cycle | TA/RA positions; contact program | Thesis or exam track. Mount Laguna Observatory |
| San Francisco State MS Astronomy & Astrophysics | Program-specific | TA/RA positions available | No GRE, 3.0 GPA minimum |
| Program | Deadline | Funding | Eligibility / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CfA SPARK Post-bac | Late April | About $42,000 stipend, medical and dental | 1 year, Cambridge MA. No prior research required |
| Princeton Astrophysics Horizon Fellowship | Early December | Fully funded year; Princeton PhD admission follows | Apply through the regular PhD application |
| Fisk-Vanderbilt Master's-to-PhD Bridge | Rolling, apply by early winter | $26,400 stipend, tuition, health insurance | Fast-track to Vanderbilt PhD or placement elsewhere |
| APS Bridge Program | Mid-March | Full funding through partner department | 50+ physics sites, astronomy included. US citizen, PR, or DACA |
| Cal-Bridge | Early April | Up to $10,000/year plus mentoring and summer research | Undergraduate program. CSU and CA community college students only |
Fellowships and Scholarships
- NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) mid to late October · Seniors and first two years of grad school. Three years of stipend.
- Goldwater Scholarship campus nomination in fall · Sophomores and juniors. Ask me.
- Simons-NSBP Scholars at Flatiron mid-January · Paid summer research. NSBP members.
- NASA FINESST February · Grad students. Your advisor is PI, you write it.
Read ten from Alex Lang's GRFP examples before you write yours. His guide covers the rest.
Last reviewed September 2026.