68 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in Pennsylvania

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 6.56M citations received by 156K 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: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

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

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#40 in North America

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

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#40 in the United States

#43 in North America

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

5. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#96 in the United States

#112 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

6. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Optical Engineering

#104 in the United States

#120 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,154

7. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#116 in the United States

#138 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#125 in the United States

#147 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,325

9. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Optical Engineering

#215 in the United States

#244 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: 27%
Average SAT: 1453
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $37,201

11. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Optical Engineering

#245 in the United States

#276 in North America

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

12. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#278 in the United States

#314 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $37,917

13. Haverford College

Haverford

For Optical Engineering

#281 in the United States

#318 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,535

14. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Optical Engineering

#290 in the United States

#328 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,469

15. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Optical Engineering

#293 in the United States

#331 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,003

16. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#328 in the United States

#372 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 19
Net Price: $24,108

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

#346 in the United States

#391 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,442

19. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Optical Engineering

#358 in the United States

#403 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,106
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

20. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Optical Engineering

#379 in the United States

#426 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $33,221

21. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#389 in the United States

#436 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1387
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $43,987

22. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Optical Engineering

#405 in the United States

#453 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,528
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $21,913

23. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#438 in the United States

#489 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1239
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $34,234

24. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Optical Engineering

#453 in the United States

#506 in North America

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

25. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Optical Engineering

#455 in the United States

#508 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1266
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $26,420

26. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#466 in the United States

#519 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1170
Net Price: $23,689
Receiving Aid: 100%

27. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#473 in the United States

#526 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $28,588
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,590

28. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Optical Engineering

#475 in the United States

#528 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 88%

29. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#486 in the United States

#539 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $31,205

30. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Optical Engineering

#509 in the United States

#563 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,769

31. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#565 in the United States

#619 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1075
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 100%

32. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#587 in the United States

#641 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $28,511

33. Widener University

Chester

For Optical Engineering

#595 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1185
Net Price: $26,778
Receiving Aid: 100%

34. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Optical Engineering

#598 in the United States

#653 in North America

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

35. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Optical Engineering

#607 in the United States

#663 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $34,739

36. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#613 in the United States

#669 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 2,901
Male:Female: 36:64

37. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Optical Engineering

#617 in the United States

#673 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,483

38. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Optical Engineering

#626 in the United States

#682 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1115
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,143

39. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Optical Engineering

#648 in the United States

#705 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $28,326

40. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Optical Engineering

#656 in the United States

#713 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $6,756

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: 81%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $26,444

43. University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville

For Optical Engineering

#738 in the United States

#800 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Net Price: $27,083
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $18,369

44. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Optical Engineering

#747 in the United States

#809 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1215
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,420

45. Gannon University

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#748 in the United States

#810 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $23,123
Receiving Aid: 85%
Average Aid: $29,799

46. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Optical Engineering

#770 in the United States

#833 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $24,580

47. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Optical Engineering

#778 in the United States

#841 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 890
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $13,750

48. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#780 in the United States

#843 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $18,069
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,880

49. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#785 in the United States

#848 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,384
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $2,461

50. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#790 in the United States

#853 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1183
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,280

51. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Optical Engineering

#801 in the United States

#864 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1085
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 96%

52. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#813 in the United States

#876 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $26,747
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $27,066

53. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#826 in the United States

#889 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,133
Male:Female: 42:58

54. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Optical Engineering

#837 in the United States

#902 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Net Price: $27,422
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,838

55. Washington & Jefferson College

Washington

For Optical Engineering

#848 in the United States

#913 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $22,702
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $20,152

56. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Optical Engineering

#852 in the United States

#917 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

57. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Optical Engineering

#853 in the United States

#918 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1165
Net Price: $30,037
Receiving Aid: 99%

58. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Optical Engineering

#854 in the United States

#919 in North America

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

59. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Optical Engineering

#855 in the United States

#920 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1293
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $32,158

60. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Optical Engineering

#864 in the United States

#929 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Net Price: $23,933
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $27,629

61. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Optical Engineering

#865 in the United States

#930 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,096

62. Wilson College

Chambersburg

For Optical Engineering

#908 in the United States

#973 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1055
Net Price: $21,748
Receiving Aid: 99%

63. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Optical Engineering

#916 in the United States

#981 in North America

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

64. Moore College of Art and Design

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#918 in the United States

#983 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $43,626

65. Grove City College

Grove City

For Optical Engineering

#920 in the United States

#985 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $25,289

66. Lebanon Valley College

Annville

For Optical Engineering

#921 in the United States

#986 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1221
Net Price: $27,995
Receiving Aid: 100%

67. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Optical Engineering

#934 in the United States

#1000 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Net Price: $20,394
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,553

68. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Optical Engineering

#942 in the United States

#1008 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $15,984
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,706

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	15
New York	92	9
West Virginia	7	119
Connecticut	18	29
Virginia	30	52
Ohio	40	27
Massachusetts	50	2
Rhode Island	6	59
Vermont	4	148
New Hampshire	8	95
North Carolina	24	32
Indiana	23	23
Kentucky	12	85
Michigan	26	5
South Carolina	15	81
Maine	7	183
Tennessee	26	64
Illinois	41	8
Georgia	26	14
Wisconsin	23	16
Alabama	19	88
Iowa	11	46
Missouri	18	48
Mississippi	10	137
Minnesota	19	25
Arkansas	11	114
Florida	31	30
Louisiana	19	79
Kansas	9	99
South Dakota	7	246
Nebraska	7	83
Oklahoma	11	97
North Dakota	3	193
Texas	55	13
Colorado	16	33
New Mexico	6	70
Montana	3	147
Puerto Rico	9	264
Utah	7	36
Idaho	4	166
Arizona	5	20
Nevada	3	126
Washington	17	10
Oregon	15	84
California	80	1
Alaska	3	201
Hawaii	4	124