100 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 90.1M citations received by 2.65M academic papers made by 957 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: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#2 in North America

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

3. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Optical Engineering

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

4. Harvard University

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

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: 74%

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: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

7. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Optical Engineering

#7 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

8. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Optical Engineering

#8 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

9. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Optical Engineering

#9 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

10. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Optical Engineering

#11 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

11. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Optical Engineering

#12 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

12. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#13 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

13. University of Texas at Austin

Texas | Austin

For Optical Engineering

#14 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

14. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#15 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

15. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Optical Engineering

#16 in North America

#26 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

16. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Optical Engineering

#17 in North America

#28 in the World

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

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Optical Engineering

#18 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

18. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Optical Engineering

#19 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

19. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Optical Engineering

#20 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

20. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#21 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

21. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Optical Engineering

#22 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

22. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Optical Engineering

#23 in North America

#36 in the World

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

23. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Optical Engineering

#24 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

24. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Optical Engineering

#25 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

25. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#26 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

26. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Optical Engineering

#27 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

27. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Optical Engineering

#28 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

28. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Optical Engineering

#29 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

29. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Optical Engineering

#30 in North America

#53 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

30. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Optical Engineering

#31 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

31. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Optical Engineering

#32 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

32. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#33 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

33. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Optical Engineering

#34 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

34. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#35 in North America

#65 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

35. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Optical Engineering

#37 in North America

#72 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

36. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Optical Engineering

#39 in North America

#75 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

37. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#40 in North America

#83 in the World

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

38. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#41 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

39. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Optical Engineering

#42 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

40. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Optical Engineering

#43 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

41. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Optical Engineering

#44 in North America

#102 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

42. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Optical Engineering

#45 in North America

#104 in the World

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

43. University of Central Florida

Florida | Orlando

For Optical Engineering

#46 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

44. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Optical Engineering

#48 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

45. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Optical Engineering

#49 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

46. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Optical Engineering

#50 in North America

#113 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

47. Rice University

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#52 in North America

#118 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,902

48. North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina | Raleigh

For Optical Engineering

#53 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 80%

49. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Optical Engineering

#54 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

50. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Optical Engineering

#55 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

51. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Optical Engineering

#56 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

52. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Optical Engineering

#57 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

53. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Optical Engineering

#58 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

54. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Optical Engineering

#59 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

55. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Optical Engineering

#60 in North America

#147 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

56. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

New York State | Troy

For Optical Engineering

#62 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $39,127

57. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Optical Engineering

#63 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

58. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Optical Engineering

#64 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

59. University of Houston

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#65 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 83%

60. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Optical Engineering

#66 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

61. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optical Engineering

#67 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

62. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Optical Engineering

#68 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

63. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Optical Engineering

#69 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

64. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Optical Engineering

#71 in North America

#197 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

65. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Optical Engineering

#72 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

66. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Optical Engineering

#73 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

67. University of Delaware

Delaware | Newark

For Optical Engineering

#74 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

68. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Optical Engineering

#75 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

69. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Optical Engineering

#77 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

70. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Optical Engineering

#79 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

71. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Optical Engineering

#80 in North America

#222 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

72. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Optical Engineering

#81 in North America

#230 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

73. University of Notre Dame

Indiana | Notre Dame

For Optical Engineering

#83 in North America

#252 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,474

74. Colorado State University - Fort Collins

Colorado | Fort Collins

For Optical Engineering

#84 in North America

#259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 84%

75. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#86 in North America

#265 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

76. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Optical Engineering

#87 in North America

#271 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
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: 69%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $22,042
Enrollment: 26,809

78. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Optical Engineering

#90 in North America

#274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

79. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Optical Engineering

#91 in North America

#279 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

80. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Optical Engineering

#92 in North America

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

81. University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Nebraska | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#93 in North America

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

82. University of California - Santa Cruz

California | Santa Cruz

For Optical Engineering

#94 in North America

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Receiving Aid: 74%
Average Aid: $21,202
Enrollment: 19,478

83. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#95 in North America

#290 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Optical Engineering

#96 in North America

#291 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

85. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Optical Engineering

#97 in North America

#294 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

86. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Optical Engineering

#98 in North America

#297 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

87. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#99 in North America

#298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

88. Oregon State University

Oregon | Corvallis

For Optical Engineering

#100 in North America

#302 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,260
Enrollment: 34,292

89. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Optical Engineering

#101 in North America

#304 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

90. Washington State University

Washington | Pullman

For Optical Engineering

#102 in North America

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $10,689
Enrollment: 27,539

91. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Optical Engineering

#103 in North America

#313 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

92. Clemson University

South Carolina | Clemson

For Optical Engineering

#107 in North America

#324 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 85%

93. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Texas | Dallas

For Optical Engineering

#108 in North America

#325 in the World

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

94. Northeastern University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Optical Engineering

#109 in North America

#333 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,827

95. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Optical Engineering

#111 in North America

#337 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

96. Kansas State University

Kansas State | Manhattan

For Optical Engineering

#112 in North America

#352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $8,537
Enrollment: 19,722

97. University of Oklahoma - Norman

Oklahoma State | Norman

For Optical Engineering

#113 in North America

#356 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

98. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Optical Engineering

#114 in North America

#361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

99. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Optical Engineering

#115 in North America

#364 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,208

100. Lehigh University

Pennsylvania | Bethlehem

For Optical Engineering

#116 in North America

#365 in the World

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

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.