100 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in the United States

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 118M citations received by 2.94M academic papers made by 993 universities in the United States 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

California | Stanford

For Optical Engineering

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,998

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optical Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $25,951
Enrollment: 45,699

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Optical Engineering

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 66%

6. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Optical Engineering

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $22,441
Enrollment: 46,678

7. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Optical Engineering

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $23,397
Receiving Aid: 68%
Average Aid: $60,201

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optical Engineering

#8 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 61%

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optical Engineering

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,455

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optical Engineering

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Receiving Aid: 55%
Average Aid: $14,390
Enrollment: 55,620

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,844

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optical Engineering

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $24,176
Enrollment: 42,376

13. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optical Engineering

#14 in North America

#22 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

14. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Optical Engineering

#15 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,811

15. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#16 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1430
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 73%

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optical Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1435
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optical Engineering

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,341

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optical Engineering

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

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

19. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#20 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,869

20. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optical Engineering

#21 in North America

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

21. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optical Engineering

#22 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,732
Enrollment: 26,068

22. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#23 in North America

#37 in the World

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

23. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Optical Engineering

#24 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optical Engineering

#25 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 65%

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optical Engineering

#26 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#27 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,900

27. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optical Engineering

#28 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 75%

28. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optical Engineering

#29 in North America

#49 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,496

29. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optical Engineering

#30 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,044

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optical Engineering

#31 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 92%

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optical Engineering

#32 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $21,258
Enrollment: 39,707

32. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Optical Engineering

#33 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 66%

33. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#34 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,422

34. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#36 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,979

35. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Optical Engineering

#37 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 77%

36. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optical Engineering

#39 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1289
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

37. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#40 in North America

#80 in the World

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

38. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optical Engineering

#41 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,533
Enrollment: 36,582

39. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Optical Engineering

#42 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,126
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

40. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#43 in North America

#100 in the World

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

41. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#44 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,730

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#45 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

43. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Optical Engineering

#47 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Optical Engineering

#48 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,992
Enrollment: 79,593

45. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Optical Engineering

#49 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

46. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optical Engineering

#50 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 71%

47. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optical Engineering

#52 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 58%

48. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optical Engineering

#53 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,440

49. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#54 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,587

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Optical Engineering

#55 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 68%

51. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optical Engineering

#56 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 44%

52. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optical Engineering

#57 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 97%

53. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Optical Engineering

#58 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optical Engineering

#59 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $41,351

55. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optical Engineering

#60 in North America

#156 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

56. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#62 in North America

#164 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $11,577
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $1,900

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Optical Engineering

#63 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $41,028

58. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optical Engineering

#64 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 88%

59. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optical Engineering

#65 in North America

#183 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,608

60. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Optical Engineering

#66 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,940

61. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#67 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 80%

62. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#68 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,986

63. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#70 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

64. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Optical Engineering

#71 in North America

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 84%

65. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Optical Engineering

#72 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 90%

66. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Optical Engineering

#73 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Optical Engineering

#74 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

68. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optical Engineering

#76 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,689

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Optical Engineering

#78 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

70. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Optical Engineering

#79 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

71. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Optical Engineering

#80 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

72. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Optical Engineering

#81 in North America

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,083

73. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Optical Engineering

#83 in North America

#254 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $10,554
Enrollment: 33,500

74. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#84 in North America

#256 in the World

Enrollment: 355
Male:Female: 21:79
Founded: 1941

75. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#85 in North America

#261 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,667
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

76. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#87 in North America

#266 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,699
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1900

77. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Optical Engineering

#89 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 75%
Average Aid: $21,566
Enrollment: 26,426

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optical Engineering

#90 in North America

#275 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

79. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optical Engineering

#91 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

80. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Optical Engineering

#92 in North America

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $21,564
Enrollment: 19,764

81. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#93 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

82. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Optical Engineering

#94 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

83. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optical Engineering

#95 in North America

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

84. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optical Engineering

#96 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

85. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Optical Engineering

#97 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,922
Enrollment: 35,622

86. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#98 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

87. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#99 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

88. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#100 in North America

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 97%

89. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optical Engineering

#101 in North America

#314 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 87%

90. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Optical Engineering

#102 in North America

#316 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $10,370
Enrollment: 26,490

91. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#103 in North America

#318 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

92. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Optical Engineering

#104 in North America

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 84%

93. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#107 in North America

#333 in the World

Enrollment: 2,501
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1943

94. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optical Engineering

#109 in North America

#341 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $45,466

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#110 in North America

#342 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $17,322

96. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Optical Engineering

#112 in North America

#357 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

97. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#113 in North America

#360 in the World

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

98. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Optical Engineering

#114 in North America

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

99. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Optical Engineering

#115 in North America

#368 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

100. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Optical Engineering

#116 in North America

#375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

The best cities to study Optical Engineering in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Stanford, Cambridge, Berkeley, and Ann Arbor.