Best Universities for Optical Engineering in North America

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 136M citations received by 3.36M academic papers made by 1,067 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: $25,078

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: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#3 in the United States

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

4. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#4 in the United States

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#5 in the United States

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

7. California Institute of Technology

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#7 in the United States

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#8 in the United States

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

9. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#9 in the United States

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

10. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#1 in Canada

#13 in the World

Enrollment: 102,431
Founded: 1827

11. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Optical Engineering

#10 in the United States

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

12. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#11 in the United States

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

13. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#12 in the United States

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

14. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#13 in the United States

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

15. Georgia Institute of Technology

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#14 in the United States

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

16. Princeton University

United States | New Jersey

For Optical Engineering

#15 in the United States

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Optical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#17 in the United States

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

19. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

20. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#19 in the United States

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

21. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Optical Engineering

#20 in the United States

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

22. University of California - Santa Barbara

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#21 in the United States

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

23. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

24. Purdue University

United States | Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#23 in the United States

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

25. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#24 in the United States

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

26. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Optical Engineering

#25 in the United States

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

27. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#26 in the United States

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

28. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Optical Engineering

#27 in the United States

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

29. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#28 in the United States

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

30. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Optical Engineering

#29 in the United States

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

31. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#30 in the United States

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

32. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#31 in the United States

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

33. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#32 in the United States

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

34. University of Colorado Boulder

United States | Colorado

For Optical Engineering

#33 in the United States

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

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: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

37. Texas A&M University - College Station

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

38. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Canada

#75 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

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

40. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

41. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#38 in the United States

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

42. New York University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#39 in the United States

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

43. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Optical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

44. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#41 in the United States

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

45. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

46. University of Central Florida

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#43 in the United States

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

47. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Canada

#108 in the World

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

48. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Optical Engineering

#44 in the United States

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

49. University of Waterloo

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#5 in Canada

#115 in the World

Founded: 1957

50. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#45 in the United States

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

51. Iowa State University

United States | Iowa State

For Optical Engineering

#46 in the United States

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

52. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Optical Engineering

#47 in the United States

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

53. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Optical Engineering

#48 in the United States

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

54. Rice University

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,589

55. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

United States | North Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#50 in the United States

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

56. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#51 in the United States

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

57. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Optical Engineering

#52 in the United States

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

58. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

United States | Virginia

For Optical Engineering

#53 in the United States

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

59. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Optical Engineering

#54 in the United States

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

60. Stony Brook University

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#55 in the United States

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

61. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#6 in Canada

#163 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

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

63. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#57 in the United States

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

64. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Optical Engineering

#58 in the United States

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

65. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Optical Engineering

#59 in the United States

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

66. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#60 in the United States

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

67. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#61 in the United States

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

68. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Optical Engineering

#7 in Canada

#191 in the World

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

69. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Optical Engineering

#62 in the United States

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

70. University of Houston

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

71. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

United States | Tennessee

For Optical Engineering

#64 in the United States

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

72. University of Georgia

United States | Georgia

For Optical Engineering

#65 in the United States

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. University at Buffalo

United States | New York State

For Optical Engineering

#66 in the United States

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

74. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Canada

#204 in the World

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

75. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Optical Engineering

#67 in the United States

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

76. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Canada

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

77. University of Delaware

United States | Delaware

For Optical Engineering

#68 in the United States

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

78. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#69 in the United States

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

79. University of New Mexico

United States | New Mexico

For Optical Engineering

#70 in the United States

#220 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

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

81. University of Notre Dame

United States | Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#72 in the United States

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

82. Laval University

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Canada

#252 in the World

Enrollment: 56,000
Founded: 1852

83. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

United States | Texas

For Optical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

84. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

United States | Colorado

For Optical Engineering

#74 in the United States

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

85. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Optical Engineering

#75 in the United States

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

86. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Optical Engineering

#11 in Canada

#264 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: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

88. Queen's University

Canada | Ontario

For Optical Engineering

#12 in Canada

#272 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Enrollment: 35,612
Founded: 1841

89. University of California - Riverside

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#77 in the United States

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

90. Tufts University

United States | Massachusetts

For Optical Engineering

#78 in the United States

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

91. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

United States | Louisiana

For Optical Engineering

#79 in the United States

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

92. University of California - Santa Cruz

United States | California

For Optical Engineering

#80 in the United States

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

93. University of South Carolina - Columbia

United States | South Carolina

For Optical Engineering

#81 in the United States

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

94. Florida State University

United States | Florida

For Optical Engineering

#82 in the United States

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

95. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

United States | Nebraska

For Optical Engineering

#83 in the United States

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

96. Oregon State University

United States | Oregon

For Optical Engineering

#84 in the United States

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

97. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Optical Engineering

#85 in the United States

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

98. Wayne State University

United States | Michigan

For Optical Engineering

#86 in the United States

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

99. University of Missouri - Columbia

United States | Missouri

For Optical Engineering

#87 in the United States

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

100. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Optical Engineering

#88 in the United States

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

Engineering subfields in North America

Acoustical Engineering918

Aerospace Engineering864

Agricultural Engineering99

Applied/Engineering Physics276

Architectural Engineering270

Architecture241

Automation and Control engineering267

Automotive Engineering334

Aviation255

Biochemical Engineering201

Biomedical Engineering317

Biotechnology510

Chemical Engineering678

Civil Engineering627

Computer Engineering328

Computer Networking887

Construction Management216

Electrical Engineering923

Electronic Engineering537

Engineering Management395

Environmental Engineering401

Firefighting and Fire Science199

Geotechnical Engineering556

Human-Computer Interaction525

Industrial Engineering185

Landscape Architecture161

Marine Engineering218

Materials Science1207

Mechanical Engineering1111

Metallurgical Engineering921

Mining Engineering176

Nanotechnology652

Nuclear Engineering200

Operations Research383

Petroleum Engineering258

Polymer science and Plastics engineering200

Product and Industrial Design223

Reliability and Quality Engineering325

Remote Sensing404

Renewable Energy Engineering281

Robotics270

Structural Engineering702

Systems Engineering613

Technical Drawing198

Telecommunications868

Transportation Engineering321