Best Universities for Optical Engineering in North America

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in North America ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 130M citations received by 3.31M academic papers made by 1,060 universities in North America was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Stanford University

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#1 in the United States

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#2 in the United States

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

6. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#6 in the United States

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

7. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#7 in the United States

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#8 in the United States

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

9. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

10. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Canada

#14 in the World

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

11. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Optical Engineering

#10 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

12. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

13. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#12 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

14. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#13 in the United States

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

15. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Optical Engineering

#14 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

16. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#15 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Optical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#17 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 66%

20. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#19 in the United States

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

21. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Optical Engineering

#20 in the United States

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

22. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#21 in the United States

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

23. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

24. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#23 in the United States

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

25. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#24 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Optical Engineering

#25 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#26 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

28. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Optical Engineering

#27 in the United States

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

29. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#28 in the United States

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

30. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Optical Engineering

#29 in the United States

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

31. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#30 in the United States

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

32. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#31 in the United States

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

33. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Optical Engineering

#32 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

34. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#33 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

35. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Canada

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 71,201
Founded: 1908

36. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#34 in the United States

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

38. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Canada

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

39. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Optical Engineering

#36 in the United States

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $32,964

41. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#38 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

42. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#39 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

43. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

44. New York University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#41 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

45. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

46. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Canada

#106 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

47. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#43 in the United States

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

48. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Optical Engineering

#44 in the United States

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

49. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Optical Engineering

#45 in the United States

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

50. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Optical Engineering

#46 in the United States

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

51. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Canada

#117 in the World

Founded: 1957

52. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#47 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

53. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Optical Engineering

#48 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

54. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

55. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#50 in the United States

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

56. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Optical Engineering

#51 in the United States

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

57. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#52 in the United States

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

58. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Optical Engineering

#53 in the United States

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

59. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Optical Engineering

#54 in the United States

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

60. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#55 in the United States

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Canada

#158 in the World

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

62. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Optical Engineering

#56 in the United States

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

63. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#57 in the United States

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

64. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Optical Engineering

#58 in the United States

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

65. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Optical Engineering

#59 in the United States

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

66. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#60 in the United States

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

67. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#61 in the United States

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

68. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#62 in the United States

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

69. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Canada

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

70. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

71. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#64 in the United States

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

72. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Optical Engineering

#65 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

73. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#66 in the United States

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

74. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Optical Engineering

#67 in the United States

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

75. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Canada

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

76. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Optical Engineering

#68 in the United States

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

77. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Canada

#208 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

78. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#69 in the United States

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

79. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Optical Engineering

#70 in the United States

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

80. University of Connecticut

United States | Connecticut

For Optical Engineering

#71 in the United States

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

81. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#72 in the United States

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

82. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Canada

#250 in the World

Enrollment: 45,000
Founded: 1852

83. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Optical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

84. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#74 in the United States

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

85. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#75 in the United States

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

86. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Canada

#262 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

87. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#76 in the United States

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

88. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Canada

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 30,386
Founded: 1841

89. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#77 in the United States

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

90. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Optical Engineering

#78 in the United States

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

91. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#79 in the United States

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

92. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#80 in the United States

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

93. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#81 in the United States

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

94. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#82 in the United States

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

95. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Optical Engineering

#83 in the United States

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

96. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#84 in the United States

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

97. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Optical Engineering

#85 in the United States

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

98. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Optical Engineering

#86 in the United States

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Optical Engineering

#87 in the United States

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

100. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Optical Engineering

#88 in the United States

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering915

Aerospace Engineering860

Agricultural Engineering103

Applied/Engineering Physics270

Architectural Engineering265

Architecture239

Automation and Control engineering263

Automotive Engineering329

Aviation264

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering312

Biotechnology505

Chemical Engineering675

Civil Engineering619

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking878

Construction Management213

Electrical Engineering917

Electronic Engineering533

Engineering Management386

Environmental Engineering398

Firefighting and Fire Science196

Geotechnical Engineering552

Human-Computer Interaction512

Industrial Engineering189

Landscape Architecture158

Marine Engineering215

Materials Science1198

Mechanical Engineering1105

Metallurgical Engineering910

Mining Engineering174

Nanotechnology643

Nuclear Engineering196

Operations Research383

Petroleum Engineering256

Polymer science and Plastics engineering210

Product and Industrial Design222

Reliability and Quality Engineering321

Remote Sensing399

Renewable Energy Engineering273

Robotics269

Structural Engineering696

Systems Engineering605

Technical Drawing194

Telecommunications859

Transportation Engineering319