Search for a different college major

Optics/Optical Sciences

Select Type of Degree:

Select State:

#1

#1 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

University of Rochester
Rochester, NY

At the University of Rochester, the three most popular college majors students study are Biology/Biological Sciences, General, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more

Acceptance Rate

40%

Annual Degrees Awarded

27

SAT Score

1,420–1,530

Median Starting Salary

$51,712
#2

#2 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Every year, the University of Arizona awards around 486 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more

Acceptance Rate

86%

Annual Degrees Awarded

66

SAT Score

1,100–1,330

Median Starting Salary

$51,739
#3

#3 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, NY

At Rochester Institute of Technology, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Modeling, and Virtual Environments and Simulation. In fact, Rochester Institute of Technology awards 208 degrees per year to Computer Science majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

67%

Annual Degrees Awarded

7

SAT Score

1,280–1,460

Median Starting Salary

$53,518
#4

#4 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

Montana State University
Bozeman, MT

At Montana State University, the most popular majors students pursue are Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Business/Commerce, General, Psychology, and General. In fact, Montana State University grants 374 degrees annually to Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

82%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

1,080–1,290

Median Starting Salary

$53,483
#5

#5 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Charlotte, NC

Every year, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte grants around 665 degrees to students majoring in Computer Science, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Psychology, General, Finance, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

80%

Annual Degrees Awarded

6

SAT Score

1,110–1,320

Median Starting Salary

$51,964
#6

#6 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY

At CUNY Queens College, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Psychology, General, Computer Science, and Accounting. In fact, CUNY Queens College awards 560 degrees per year to Psychology, General majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

64%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

1,010–1,290

Median Starting Salary

$49,337
#7

#7 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

Delaware State University
Dover, DE

At Delaware State University, the three most popular college majors students pursue are Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other, Business Administration and Management, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

62%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

880–1,090

Median Starting Salary

$55,178
#8

#8 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM

At the University of New Mexico-Main Campus, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Psychology, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

79%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

910–1,180

Median Starting Salary

$50,730
#9

#9 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH

Annually, Cleveland State University awards around 194 degrees to those studying Psychology, General, which is the school’s most popular major....view more

Acceptance Rate

91%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

950–1,270

Median Starting Salary

$51,153
#10

#10 Best College for Optics/Optical Sciences in the U.S.

Air Force Institute of Technology-Graduate School of Engineering & Management
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

Acceptance Rate

--

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

--

Median Starting Salary

$54,382
*The estimated net prices above are College Raptor’s estimate. Please contact the college financial aid office for actual net cost figures.

About Optics/Optical Sciences

A program that focuses on the scientific study of light energy, including its structure, properties and behavior under different conditions. Includes instruction in wave theory, wave mechanics, electromagnetic theory, physical optics, geometric optics, quantum theory of light, photon detecting, laser theory, wall and beam properties, chaotic light, non-linear optics, harmonic generation, optical systems theory, and applications to engineering problems.

Arizona grants the most Masters degrees in Optics/Optical Sciences of all US states with 66 degrees being granted last year. Students wanting to major in Optics/Optical Sciences can expect approximately 78% percent of their fellow classmates to be men and 23% percent to be women. The majority students graduating in this field earn a Postbaccalaureate certificate. The average annual income for a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Optics/Optical Sciences is $55,100.

Popularity of Optics/Optical Sciences Degrees in the U.S.
This heat map represents the states that have the highest percent of Optics/Optical Sciences degrees compared to all other degrees awarded in that state.
Less Popular
More Popular

Careers

Some top careers related to Optics/Optical Sciences, include Physicists and Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, both of which have many employment opportunities. Yet there are higher paying careers, such as Physicists. the most available position for Optics/Optical Sciences majors is Natural Sciences Managers.

Top Paying Careers

These are the highest paying careers for Optics/Optical Sciences majors.

Most In-Demand Careers

These are the careers in highest demand for Optics/Optical Sciences majors.

Student Demographics

Total Students
120
Female Students
27 (22%)
Male Students
93 (77%)

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Join thousands of students and parents learning about finding the right college, admissions secrets, scholarships, financial aid, and more.

College Raptor Loading Screen College Raptor Loading Screen