55 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in Texas

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Texas ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 6.79M citations received by 191K academic papers made by 55 universities in Texas 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. University of Texas at Austin

Austin

For Optical Engineering

#13 in the United States

#14 in North America

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

2. Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station

For Optical Engineering

#35 in the United States

#37 in North America

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

3. Rice University

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#49 in the United States

#54 in North America

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

4. University of Houston

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#63 in the United States

#70 in North America

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

5. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#73 in the United States

#83 in North America

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

6. Baylor College of Medicine

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#76 in the United States

#87 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

7. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#93 in the United States

#105 in North America

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

8. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#100 in the United States

#116 in North America

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

9. Texas Tech University

Lubbock

For Optical Engineering

#108 in the United States

#126 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

10. University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson

For Optical Engineering

#113 in the United States

#133 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

11. University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington

For Optical Engineering

#132 in the United States

#155 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%

12. University of North Texas

Denton

For Optical Engineering

#134 in the United States

#157 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

13. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

San Antonio

For Optical Engineering

#144 in the United States

#167 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

14. Southern Methodist University

Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#175 in the United States

#202 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $48,179

15. University of Texas Medical Branch

Galveston

For Optical Engineering

#182 in the United States

#210 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 3,241
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1891

16. University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso

For Optical Engineering

#189 in the United States

#217 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 88%

17. University of Texas at San Antonio

San Antonio

For Optical Engineering

#190 in the United States

#218 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1110
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 86%

18. Baylor University

Waco

For Optical Engineering

#217 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $47,001

19. Texas State University

San Marcos

For Optical Engineering

#241 in the United States

#272 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1090
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 87%

20. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Lubbock

For Optical Engineering

#263 in the United States

#298 in North America

Enrollment: 5,098
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1969

21. Texas Christian University

Fort Worth

For Optical Engineering

#284 in the United States

#322 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $41,848

22. University of North Texas Health Science Center

Fort Worth

For Optical Engineering

#298 in the United States

#336 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 2,332
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1970

23. Lamar University

Beaumont

For Optical Engineering

#325 in the United States

#367 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1035
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%

24. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Edinburg

For Optical Engineering

#344 in the United States

#389 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 985
Average ACT: 18
Receiving Aid: 95%

25. Sam Houston State University

Huntsville

For Optical Engineering

#401 in the United States

#448 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 85%

26. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville

For Optical Engineering

#403 in the United States

#451 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1050
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,163

27. Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View

For Optical Engineering

#409 in the United States

#457 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 970
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 88%

28. Trinity University

San Antonio

For Optical Engineering

#410 in the United States

#458 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $32,224

29. Southwestern University

Georgetown

For Optical Engineering

#432 in the United States

#481 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $32,228

30. Texas Woman's University

Denton

For Optical Engineering

#458 in the United States

#511 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $10,309
Enrollment: 15,361

31. Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi

For Optical Engineering

#461 in the United States

#514 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1082
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 83%

32. Texas A&M University - Commerce

Commerce

For Optical Engineering

#465 in the United States

#518 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 95%

33. University of Texas at Tyler

Tyler

For Optical Engineering

#550 in the United States

#604 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 90%

34. Texas Southern University

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#558 in the United States

#612 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average SAT: 900
Average ACT: 17
Receiving Aid: 97%

35. West Texas A&M University

Canyon

For Optical Engineering

#575 in the United States

#629 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 99%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 94%

36. Texas A&M University at Galveston

Galveston

For Optical Engineering

#577 in the United States

#631 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Founded: 1962

37. University of Houston - Clear Lake

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#610 in the United States

#666 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 80%

38. Texas A&M International University

Laredo

For Optical Engineering

#611 in the United States

#667 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 990
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 99%

39. Texas College

Tyler

For Optical Engineering

#638 in the United States

#695 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $10,958
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $9,381

40. University of Dallas

Irving

For Optical Engineering

#641 in the United States

#698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $29,209

41. Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches

For Optical Engineering

#666 in the United States

#723 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 91%

42. St. Mary's University

San Antonio

For Optical Engineering

#667 in the United States

#724 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Average SAT: 1105
Average ACT: 21
Net Price: $20,412

43. Abilene Christian University

Abilene

For Optical Engineering

#670 in the United States

#727 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $28,760

44. University of Houston - Downtown

Houston

For Optical Engineering

#674 in the United States

#732 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1025
Average ACT: 19
Receiving Aid: 88%

45. Lubbock Christian University

Lubbock

For Optical Engineering

#701 in the United States

#760 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $24,544

46. Austin College

Sherman

For Optical Engineering

#703 in the United States

#763 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $23,462

47. Angelo State University

San Angelo

For Optical Engineering

#705 in the United States

#767 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 98%

48. University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler

Tyler

For Optical Engineering

#712 in the United States

#774 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1947

49. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio

For Optical Engineering

#723 in the United States

#785 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 98%
Net Price: $23,363
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $25,354

50. Tarleton State University

Stephenville

For Optical Engineering

#771 in the United States

#834 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1070
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%

51. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls

For Optical Engineering

#862 in the United States

#927 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $11,037
Enrollment: 5,324

52. Texas Health and Science University

Austin

For Optical Engineering

#876 in the United States

#941 in North America

Enrollment: 92
Male:Female: 23:77

53. University of Texas of the Permian Basin

Odessa

For Optical Engineering

#899 in the United States

#964 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1020
Average ACT: 20
Receiving Aid: 98%

54. Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest

Austin

For Optical Engineering

#917 in the United States

#982 in North America

Enrollment: 109
Male:Female: 31:69

55. University of Houston - Victoria

Victoria

For Optical Engineering

#977 in the United States

#1044 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $13,210
Enrollment: 3,586

Closest to Texas states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Oklahoma	11	97
New Mexico	6	70
Louisiana	19	79
Arkansas	11	114
Kansas	9	99
Mississippi	10	137
Colorado	16	33
Missouri	18	48
Arizona	5	20
Nebraska	7	83
Alabama	19	88
Iowa	11	46
Utah	7	36
Illinois	41	8
Tennessee	26	64
South Dakota	7	246
Kentucky	12	85
Georgia	26	14
Indiana	23	23
Minnesota	19	25
Wisconsin	23	16
Nevada	3	126
Florida	31	30
South Carolina	15	81
North Dakota	3	193
Ohio	40	27
North Carolina	24	32
Michigan	26	5
California	80	1
Montana	3	147
Idaho	4	166
West Virginia	7	119
Virginia	30	52
District of Columbia	8	94
Maryland	21	11
Pennsylvania	68	18
Oregon	15	84
New Jersey	18	15
Washington	17	10
New York	92	9
Connecticut	18	29
Vermont	4	148
Massachusetts	50	2
Rhode Island	6	59
New Hampshire	8	95
Maine	7	183
Puerto Rico	9	264
Alaska	3	201
Hawaii	4	124