100 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 123M citations received by 2.98M academic papers made by 1,000 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: $25,078

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

4. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optical Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Optical Engineering

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

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: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

7. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Optical Engineering

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

8. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optical Engineering

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

9. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optical Engineering

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optical Engineering

#11 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

11. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#12 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optical Engineering

#13 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

13. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optical Engineering

#14 in North America

#23 in the World

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

14. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#15 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

15. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Optical Engineering

#16 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

16. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optical Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

17. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optical Engineering

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

18. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optical Engineering

#19 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

19. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#20 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

20. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optical Engineering

#21 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

21. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optical Engineering

#22 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

22. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#23 in North America

#40 in the World

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

23. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Optical Engineering

#24 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optical Engineering

#25 in North America

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

25. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optical Engineering

#26 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

26. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#27 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

27. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optical Engineering

#28 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

28. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optical Engineering

#29 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

29. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optical Engineering

#30 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optical Engineering

#31 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optical Engineering

#32 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

32. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#33 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

33. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Optical Engineering

#34 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

34. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#36 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

35. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Optical Engineering

#37 in North America

#69 in the World

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

36. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optical Engineering

#39 in North America

#77 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

37. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#40 in North America

#88 in the World

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

38. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Optical Engineering

#41 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

39. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#42 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

40. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#43 in North America

#100 in the World

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

41. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optical Engineering

#44 in North America

#101 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

42. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#45 in North America

#103 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

43. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Optical Engineering

#46 in North America

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

44. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Optical Engineering

#48 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

45. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optical Engineering

#50 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

46. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Optical Engineering

#51 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

47. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optical Engineering

#52 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

48. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optical Engineering

#53 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

49. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#54 in North America

#125 in the World

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

50. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Optical Engineering

#55 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

51. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optical Engineering

#56 in North America

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

52. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optical Engineering

#57 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

53. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Optical Engineering

#58 in North America

#146 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

54. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optical Engineering

#59 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

55. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optical Engineering

#60 in North America

#162 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

56. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#62 in North America

#167 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Optical Engineering

#63 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

58. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optical Engineering

#64 in North America

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

59. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optical Engineering

#65 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

60. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#66 in North America

#188 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

61. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Optical Engineering

#67 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1443
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $38,887

62. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#69 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

63. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#70 in North America

#197 in the World

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

64. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Optical Engineering

#71 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

65. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Optical Engineering

#72 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

66. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Optical Engineering

#73 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

67. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optical Engineering

#75 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

68. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Optical Engineering

#77 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Optical Engineering

#78 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

70. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Optical Engineering

#79 in North America

#220 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

#235 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

72. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Optical Engineering

#81 in North America

#246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1508
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,300

73. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#83 in North America

#256 in the World

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

74. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Optical Engineering

#84 in North America

#258 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $10,160
Enrollment: 34,096

75. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#85 in North America

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
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: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

77. University of California - Riverside

California | Riverside

For Optical Engineering

#89 in North America

#273 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $24,355
Enrollment: 26,384

78. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optical Engineering

#90 in North America

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

79. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optical Engineering

#91 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

80. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Optical Engineering

#92 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Receiving Aid: 64%
Average Aid: $22,774
Enrollment: 19,938

81. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#93 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

82. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Optical Engineering

#94 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

83. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#95 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1214
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

84. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Optical Engineering

#96 in North America

#292 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

85. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optical Engineering

#97 in North America

#293 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

86. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optical Engineering

#98 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

87. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#99 in North America

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

88. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#100 in North America

#300 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

89. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#101 in North America

#317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

90. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Optical Engineering

#102 in North America

#320 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,886
Enrollment: 25,685

91. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optical Engineering

#103 in North America

#321 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

92. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Optical Engineering

#104 in North America

#329 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

93. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#105 in North America

#332 in the World

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

94. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optical Engineering

#109 in North America

#348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#111 in North America

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

96. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#112 in North America

#352 in the World

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

97. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Optical Engineering

#113 in North America

#360 in the World

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

98. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Optical Engineering

#114 in North America

#367 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

99. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Optical Engineering

#115 in North America

#371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 95%

100. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#116 in North America

#384 in the World

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

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.