23 Best colleges for Optical Engineering in Wisconsin

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Wisconsin ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 2.22M citations received by 55.3K academic papers made by 23 universities in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin - Madison

Madison

For Optical Engineering

#16 in the United States

#17 in North America

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

2. Medical College of Wisconsin

Milwaukee

For Optical Engineering

#118 in the United States

#140 in North America

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

3. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Milwaukee

For Optical Engineering

#143 in the United States

#166 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $6,347

4. Marquette University

Milwaukee

For Optical Engineering

#170 in the United States

#196 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $34,322

5. University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse

For Optical Engineering

#426 in the United States

#474 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $4,499

6. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire

Eau Claire

For Optical Engineering

#484 in the United States

#537 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $5,663

7. University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

Oshkosh

For Optical Engineering

#493 in the United States

#547 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $6,605

8. Beloit College

Beloit

For Optical Engineering

#501 in the United States

#555 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $24,455

9. University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Stevens Point

For Optical Engineering

#561 in the United States

#615 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $5,014

10. University of Wisconsin - Whitewater

Whitewater

For Optical Engineering

#600 in the United States

#656 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $5,685

11. Milwaukee School of Engineering

Milwaukee

For Optical Engineering

#615 in the United States

#671 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Net Price: $25,669
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $36,997

12. University of Wisconsin - Parkside

Kenosha

For Optical Engineering

#651 in the United States

#708 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $7,598

13. University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Platteville

For Optical Engineering

#669 in the United States

#726 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $4,780

14. Lawrence University

Appleton

For Optical Engineering

#704 in the United States

#765 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $27,161

15. Concordia University - Wisconsin

Mequon

For Optical Engineering

#740 in the United States

#802 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $31,916
Receiving Aid: 100%

16. University of Wisconsin - River Falls

River Falls

For Optical Engineering

#746 in the United States

#808 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $4,176

17. University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

Green Bay

For Optical Engineering

#751 in the United States

#813 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $7,611

18. University of Wisconsin - Stout

Menomonie

For Optical Engineering

#766 in the United States

#829 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $6,335

19. Carthage College

Kenosha

For Optical Engineering

#824 in the United States

#887 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average ACT: 23
Net Price: $27,066
Receiving Aid: 100%

20. Saint Norbert College

De Pere

For Optical Engineering

#875 in the United States

#940 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,880

21. Viterbo University

La Crosse

For Optical Engineering

#878 in the United States

#943 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average ACT: 24
Net Price: $21,933
Receiving Aid: 100%

22. Madison Area Technical College

Madison

For Optical Engineering

#950 in the United States

#1017 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Receiving Aid: 43%
Average Aid: $5,872
Enrollment: 13,641

23. University of Wisconsin - Superior

Superior

For Optical Engineering

#965 in the United States

#1032 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average ACT: 21
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $5,585

Closest to Wisconsin states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Michigan	26	5
Minnesota	19	25
Iowa	11	46
Illinois	41	8
Indiana	23	23
Missouri	18	48
Ohio	40	27
South Dakota	7	246
Kentucky	12	85
North Dakota	3	193
Nebraska	7	83
West Virginia	7	119
Kansas	9	99
Tennessee	26	64
Pennsylvania	68	18
Arkansas	11	114
Virginia	30	52
New York	92	9
District of Columbia	8	94
Maryland	21	11
Oklahoma	11	97
Mississippi	10	137
North Carolina	24	32
New Jersey	18	15
Alabama	19	88
Vermont	4	148
South Carolina	15	81
Georgia	26	14
Connecticut	18	29
New Hampshire	8	95
Massachusetts	50	2
Colorado	16	33
Rhode Island	6	59
Louisiana	19	79
Montana	3	147
Maine	7	183
Texas	55	13
New Mexico	6	70
Utah	7	36
Idaho	4	166
Florida	31	30
Arizona	5	20
Nevada	3	126
Washington	17	10
Oregon	15	84
California	80	1
Puerto Rico	9	264
Alaska	3	201
Hawaii	4	124