68 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Pennsylvania ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 6.29M citations received by 153K academic papers made by 68 universities in Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania State University

University Park

For Optical Engineering

#18 in the United States

#19 in North America

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

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#43 in North America

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

5. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#97 in the United States

#113 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,342

6. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Optical Engineering

#104 in the United States

#120 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,289

7. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#120 in the United States

#142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $11,891
Enrollment: 30,205

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#126 in the United States

#148 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $29,097

9. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Optical Engineering

#217 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

10. Villanova University

Villanova

For Optical Engineering

#223 in the United States

#252 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,946

11. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Optical Engineering

#245 in the United States

#277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $6,250
Enrollment: 6,885

12. Haverford College

Haverford

For Optical Engineering

#277 in the United States

#313 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,828

13. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#278 in the United States

#314 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,125

14. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Optical Engineering

#289 in the United States

#327 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,930

15. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Optical Engineering

#293 in the United States

#331 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,486

16. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#323 in the United States

#365 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1145
Net Price: $24,638
Receiving Aid: 100%

17. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#337 in the United States

#381 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Net Price: $29,948
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $14,493

18. Lafayette College

Easton

For Optical Engineering

#344 in the United States

#389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,728

19. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Optical Engineering

#358 in the United States

#403 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,148
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

20. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Optical Engineering

#371 in the United States

#418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,383

21. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#387 in the United States

#434 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Average SAT: 1379
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $37,475

22. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Optical Engineering

#403 in the United States

#450 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $22,145
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $20,748

23. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#439 in the United States

#490 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,100

24. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Optical Engineering

#453 in the United States

#506 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,929

25. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Optical Engineering

#456 in the United States

#509 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $8,863
Enrollment: 1,784

26. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#468 in the United States

#521 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 22
Net Price: $25,608

27. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#471 in the United States

#524 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $28,583
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,744

28. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Optical Engineering

#477 in the United States

#530 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

29. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#489 in the United States

#542 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $36,392

30. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Optical Engineering

#508 in the United States

#562 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1350
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,729

31. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#565 in the United States

#619 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1055
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 99%

32. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#581 in the United States

#635 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1147
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,508

33. Widener University

Chester

For Optical Engineering

#596 in the United States

#651 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1155
Net Price: $30,720
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Optical Engineering

#597 in the United States

#652 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $6,347
Enrollment: 7,500

35. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Optical Engineering

#609 in the United States

#665 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,814

36. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Optical Engineering

#614 in the United States

#670 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $40,242
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $40,209

37. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#616 in the United States

#672 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 3,027
Male:Female: 36:64

38. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Optical Engineering

#622 in the United States

#678 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1120
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $6,205

39. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Optical Engineering

#647 in the United States

#704 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,421

40. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Optical Engineering

#651 in the United States

#708 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1100
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $5,951

41. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro

For Optical Engineering

#716 in the United States

#778 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $5,524
Enrollment: 4,319

42. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Optical Engineering

#725 in the United States

#787 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1190
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $27,258

43. University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville

For Optical Engineering

#728 in the United States

#790 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $27,854
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,317

44. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Optical Engineering

#746 in the United States

#808 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1170
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $6,716

45. Gannon University

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#760 in the United States

#822 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Net Price: $23,942
Receiving Aid: 83%
Average Aid: $27,483

46. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Optical Engineering

#769 in the United States

#831 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1175
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,925

47. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#774 in the United States

#836 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $20,119
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $25,808

48. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Optical Engineering

#778 in the United States

#841 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 960
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 99%

49. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#793 in the United States

#856 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $29,051

50. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Optical Engineering

#795 in the United States

#858 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#804 in the United States

#867 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Enrollment: 649
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 2008

52. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#807 in the United States

#870 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $25,090
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,624

53. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Optical Engineering

#839 in the United States

#903 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $21,900
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,308

54. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Optical Engineering

#844 in the United States

#908 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

55. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Optical Engineering

#845 in the United States

#910 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $26,051
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $38,971

56. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Optical Engineering

#846 in the United States

#911 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,625

57. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Optical Engineering

#848 in the United States

#913 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $4,862
Founded: 1870

58. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Optical Engineering

#857 in the United States

#922 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1130
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $21,036

59. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Optical Engineering

#864 in the United States

#929 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1197
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,994

60. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#865 in the United States

#930 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,117
Male:Female: 43:57

61. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Optical Engineering

#867 in the United States

#932 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $26,215
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $24,908

62. Moore College of Art and Design

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#907 in the United States

#972 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1322
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $44,371

63. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Optical Engineering

#908 in the United States

#973 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $8,127
Enrollment: 3,070

64. Lebanon Valley College

Annville

For Optical Engineering

#917 in the United States

#982 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1197
Net Price: $28,640
Receiving Aid: 100%

65. Grove City College

Grove City

For Optical Engineering

#924 in the United States

#989 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1251
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $24,184

66. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Optical Engineering

#927 in the United States

#993 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Net Price: $21,089
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,615

67. Wilson College

Chambersburg

For Optical Engineering

#935 in the United States

#1001 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Net Price: $21,567
Receiving Aid: 99%

68. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Optical Engineering

#950 in the United States

#1017 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $14,882
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,747

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	21	11
District of Columbia	8	94
New Jersey	18	14
New York	92	9
West Virginia	7	118
Connecticut	18	29
Virginia	30	51
Ohio	40	27
Massachusetts	50	2
Rhode Island	6	59
Vermont	4	147
New Hampshire	7	95
North Carolina	24	33
Indiana	22	23
Kentucky	12	83
Michigan	26	5
South Carolina	15	81
Maine	7	184
Tennessee	25	65
Illinois	40	8
Georgia	26	15
Wisconsin	23	16
Alabama	19	88
Iowa	11	45
Missouri	18	48
Mississippi	9	137
Minnesota	19	25
Arkansas	11	114
Florida	31	30
Louisiana	19	78
Kansas	9	98
South Dakota	7	246
Nebraska	7	86
Oklahoma	11	96
North Dakota	3	195
Texas	55	13
Colorado	16	32
New Mexico	6	70
Montana	3	146
Puerto Rico	9	264
Utah	7	36
Idaho	4	167
Arizona	5	20
Washington	17	10
Oregon	15	85
California	79	1
Alaska	3	201
Hawaii	4	125