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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 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

42%

Annual Degrees Awarded

54

SAT Score

1,390–1,530

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 545 degrees to students majoring in Psychology, General, which is the institution’s most popular major....view more

Acceptance Rate

84%

Annual Degrees Awarded

53

SAT Score

1,060–1,320

Median Starting Salary

$51,739
#3

#3 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

5%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

1,510–1,560

Median Starting Salary

$50,428
#4

#4 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, Psychology, General, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse....view more

Acceptance Rate

80%

Annual Degrees Awarded

11

SAT Score

930–1,190

Median Starting Salary

$50,730
#5

#5 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, Psychology, and General. In fact, Montana State University grants 456 degrees annually to Business/Commerce, General majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

99%

Annual Degrees Awarded

5

SAT Score

1,080–1,290

Median Starting Salary

$53,483
#6

#6 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 838 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

78%

Annual Degrees Awarded

8

SAT Score

1,110–1,310

Median Starting Salary

$51,964
#7

#7 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, Modeling, Virtual Environments and Simulation, and Mechanical Engineering. In fact, Rochester Institute of Technology awards 231 degrees per year to Computer Science majors....view more

Acceptance Rate

67%

Annual Degrees Awarded

3

SAT Score

1,280–1,460

Median Starting Salary

$53,518
#8

#8 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.

New York grants the most Masters degrees in Optics/Optical Sciences of all US states with 57 degrees being granted last year. Students wanting to major in Optics/Optical Sciences can expect approximately 79% percent of their fellow classmates to be men and 21% 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.
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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
138
Female Students
29 (21%)
Male Students
109 (78%)

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