66 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in Pennsylvania

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 4.84M citations received by 139K academic papers made by 66 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

#16 in the United States

#17 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United States

#23 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

3. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United States

#40 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

4. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#42 in the United States

#45 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

5. Lehigh University

Bethlehem

For Optical Engineering

#100 in the United States

#116 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,453

6. Drexel University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#101 in the United States

#117 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $39,267

7. Temple University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#123 in the United States

#145 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

8. Thomas Jefferson University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#127 in the United States

#150 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

9. California University of Pennsylvania

California

For Optical Engineering

#214 in the United States

#243 in North America

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

10. Pennsylvania State University - College of Medicine

Hershey

For Optical Engineering

#221 in the United States

#250 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Founded: 1967

11. Villanova University

Villanova

For Optical Engineering

#226 in the United States

#255 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1439
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $34,837

12. Duquesne University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#269 in the United States

#304 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $33,919

13. Haverford College

Haverford

For Optical Engineering

#273 in the United States

#309 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,476

14. Swarthmore College

Swarthmore

For Optical Engineering

#287 in the United States

#323 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,715

15. Bucknell University

Lewisburg

For Optical Engineering

#294 in the United States

#332 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,965

16. La Roche College

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#310 in the United States

#349 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,233

17. Lafayette College

Easton

For Optical Engineering

#333 in the United States

#377 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $37,186

18. Salus University

Elkins Park

For Optical Engineering

#343 in the United States

#387 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Enrollment: 1,165
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1919

19. Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#370 in the United States

#416 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $31,135

20. Bryn Mawr College

Bryn Mawr

For Optical Engineering

#376 in the United States

#422 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1388
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $39,072

21. University of the Sciences

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#414 in the United States

#464 in North America

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

22. Allegheny College

Meadville

For Optical Engineering

#441 in the United States

#492 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,719

23. West Chester University of Pennsylvania

West Chester

For Optical Engineering

#447 in the United States

#499 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 86%

24. University of Scranton

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#449 in the United States

#501 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,526

25. Mansfield University of Pennsylvania

Mansfield

For Optical Engineering

#461 in the United States

#514 in North America

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

26. Chestnut Hill College

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#483 in the United States

#537 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $25,357
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,288

27. Gettysburg College

Gettysburg

For Optical Engineering

#490 in the United States

#544 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,882

28. King's College - Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#510 in the United States

#564 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $25,869

29. Geneva College

Beaver Falls

For Optical Engineering

#538 in the United States

#592 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Net Price: $20,999
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $20,305

30. Indiana University of Pennsylvania

Indiana

For Optical Engineering

#548 in the United States

#602 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1045
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 100%

31. Wilkes University

Wilkes-Barre

For Optical Engineering

#571 in the United States

#626 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $27,918

32. Widener University

Chester

For Optical Engineering

#588 in the United States

#644 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1198
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $32,185

33. Saint Joseph's University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#596 in the United States

#652 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,777

34. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Bloomsburg

For Optical Engineering

#600 in the United States

#656 in North America

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

35. Dickinson College

Carlisle

For Optical Engineering

#601 in the United States

#657 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Net Price: $37,610
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $39,554

36. Saint Francis University

Loretto

For Optical Engineering

#612 in the United States

#668 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $27,459

37. Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#618 in the United States

#674 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 3,036
Male:Female: 37:63

38. Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Millersville

For Optical Engineering

#630 in the United States

#686 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1155
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $5,902

39. University of Valley Forge

Phoenixville

For Optical Engineering

#664 in the United States

#720 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Net Price: $25,825
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $15,715

40. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Shippensburg

For Optical Engineering

#684 in the United States

#740 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1095
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,593

41. Susquehanna University

Selinsgrove

For Optical Engineering

#707 in the United States

#767 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1184
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $28,605

42. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

Edinboro

For Optical Engineering

#712 in the United States

#772 in North America

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

43. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown

For Optical Engineering

#724 in the United States

#784 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1150
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $7,563

44. Chatham University

Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#738 in the United States

#799 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,322

45. Robert Morris University

Moon Township

For Optical Engineering

#755 in the United States

#817 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $23,572
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,512

46. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock

For Optical Engineering

#780 in the United States

#842 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 98%

47. York College of Pennsylvania

York

For Optical Engineering

#783 in the United States

#845 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $20,916

48. Gannon University

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#789 in the United States

#851 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Net Price: $22,200
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,172

49. Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Scranton

For Optical Engineering

#792 in the United States

#854 in North America

Enrollment: 708
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 2008

50. Clarion University of Pennsylvania

Clarion

For Optical Engineering

#805 in the United States

#867 in North America

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

51. Lock Haven University

Lock Haven

For Optical Engineering

#812 in the United States

#874 in North America

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

52. Ursinus College

Collegeville

For Optical Engineering

#823 in the United States

#886 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $33,546

53. Juniata College

Huntingdon

For Optical Engineering

#824 in the United States

#887 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $29,926

54. Misericordia University

Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#830 in the United States

#893 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $27,033
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,008

55. Arcadia University

Glenside

For Optical Engineering

#840 in the United States

#905 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1204
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $29,692

56. East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg

For Optical Engineering

#841 in the United States

#906 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1050
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 95%

57. Lebanon Valley College

Annville

For Optical Engineering

#850 in the United States

#915 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1200
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $26,743

58. La Salle University

Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#853 in the United States

#918 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1159
Net Price: $17,552
Receiving Aid: 100%

59. Lincoln University

Lincoln University

For Optical Engineering

#870 in the United States

#935 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 940
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 99%

60. Westminster College

New Wilmington

For Optical Engineering

#872 in the United States

#937 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $22,645
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $30,252

61. Muhlenberg College

Allentown

For Optical Engineering

#885 in the United States

#950 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $32,926

62. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Erie

For Optical Engineering

#902 in the United States

#967 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 4,307
Male:Female: 43:57

63. Grove City College

Grove City

For Optical Engineering

#907 in the United States

#972 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $23,538

64. Eastern University

Saint Davids

For Optical Engineering

#912 in the United States

#977 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Net Price: $26,669
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,542

65. Wilson College

Chambersburg

For Optical Engineering

#935 in the United States

#1002 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1045
Net Price: $23,923
Receiving Aid: 99%

66. Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

Harrisburg

For Optical Engineering

#943 in the United States

#1010 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Net Price: $10,022
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $23,589

Closest to Pennsylvania states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Maryland	21	12
District of Columbia	8	95
New Jersey	18	15
New York	92	8
West Virginia	6	121
Connecticut	16	29
Virginia	29	51
Ohio	38	28
Massachusetts	46	2
Rhode Island	5	61
Vermont	4	149
New Hampshire	8	99
North Carolina	24	34
Indiana	20	27
Kentucky	10	79
Michigan	23	5
South Carolina	15	83
Maine	7	185
Tennessee	24	66
Illinois	38	7
Georgia	25	14
Wisconsin	22	17
Alabama	19	87
Iowa	10	40
Missouri	18	49
Mississippi	8	135
Minnesota	19	23
Arkansas	9	112
Florida	31	30
Louisiana	18	78
Kansas	9	96
South Dakota	7	252
Nebraska	7	81
Oklahoma	10	97
North Dakota	3	197
Texas	53	13
Colorado	15	31
New Mexico	6	70
Montana	3	147
Puerto Rico	9	260
Utah	7	36
Idaho	4	168
Arizona	5	21
Washington	16	10
Oregon	15	88
California	77	1
Alaska	3	216
Hawaii	4	128