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Optics/Optical Sciences

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#1

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

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Every year, the University of Arizona awards around 469 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, which is the institution’s most popular major. Other often-pursued majors include Physiology, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

86%

Annual Degrees Awarded

66

SAT Score

1,100–1,330

Median Starting Salary

$51,739
#2

#2 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, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, and Other....view more

Acceptance Rate

40%

Annual Degrees Awarded

22

SAT Score

1,420–1,530

Median Starting Salary

$51,712
#3

#3 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

13

SAT Score

910–1,180

Median Starting Salary

$50,730
#4

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

Duke University
Durham, NC

Two schools at Duke University are devoted to undergraduates: Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Pratt School of Engineering. Combined they offer fifty majors, fifty-two minors, and the ability for students to design their own interdisciplinary majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

6%

Annual Degrees Awarded

2

SAT Score

1,520–1,560

Median Starting Salary

$50,428
#5

#5 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 195 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
#6

#6 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 Business/Commerce, General, Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, Montana State University grants 287 degrees annually to Business/Commerce, General majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

82%

Annual Degrees Awarded

5

SAT Score

1,080–1,290

Median Starting Salary

$53,483
#7

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

Clemson University
Clemson, SC

At Clemson University, the most popular majors students pursue are Business Administration and Management, General, Marketing/Marketing Management, General, Psychology, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

38%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

1,270–1,420

Median Starting Salary

$55,027
#8

#8 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 641 degrees to students majoring in Computer Science, the institution’s most popular major. Other popular majors include Finance, General, Psychology, General, Biology/Biological Sciences, and General....view more

Acceptance Rate

80%

Annual Degrees Awarded

7

SAT Score

1,110–1,320

Median Starting Salary

$51,964
#9

#9 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 566 degrees per year to Psychology, General majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

64%

Annual Degrees Awarded

5

SAT Score

1,010–1,290

Median Starting Salary

$49,337
#10

#10 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 Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Mass Communication/Media Studies, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, and Other....view more

Acceptance Rate

62%

Annual Degrees Awarded

1

SAT Score

850–1,070

Median Starting Salary

$55,178
#11

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

Cleveland State University
Cleveland, OH

Annually, Cleveland State University awards around 211 degrees to those studying Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, which is the school’s most popular major....view more

Acceptance Rate

91%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

880–1,130

Median Starting Salary

$51,153
*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 73% percent of their fellow classmates to be men and 27% 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
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Careers

Some top careers related to Optics/Optical Sciences, include Physics Teachers, Postsecondary and Physicists, 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
132
Female Students
35 (26%)
Male Students
97 (73%)

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