by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 5 U.S. colleges awarded 116 degrees and certificates in Optical Enginering. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 62% of graduates. College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Optical Enginering Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $82,517 one year after completing, rising to $107,328 after four years.
Studying Optical Enginering explores Laser And Optical Engineering. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Mathematical And Scientific Principles To The Design, Development And Operational Evaluation Of Optical Systems, Lasers And Related Electronic Devices. Includes Instruction In Wave Theory And Mechanics, Electromagnetic Applications, Linear And Non-Linear Optics, Photon Detecting, Laser Beam Properties, Directed Energy, Harmonic Generation, Optical Systems, Shielding And The Design And Implementation Of Related Systems And Equipment. Examples: [Electro-Optic Engineering], [Optical Engineering].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, optical enginering is a popular field of study, with 116 degrees awarded annually. 5 colleges award optical enginering degrees, an average of 23 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 57.
By level, the 116 awards include 72 bachelor’s degrees, 31 master’s degrees and 13 doctorates.
Women earned 30% of optical enginering degrees and certificates in the latest year (35 of 116). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (54) and Hispanic or Latino (17), and international students earned 30.
College Factual ranks 4 schools in its 2027 Best Optical Enginering Schools ranking, including 4 for bachelor’s degrees and 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks optical enginering schools within 4 states. In all, 5 colleges offer optical enginering programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Optical Enginering Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common optical enginering credential is the bachelor’s degree: 72 of the 116 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to optical enginering call most for Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Speaking, and for knowledge of Engineering and Technology, Mathematics and Design, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
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How long an optical enginering degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 72 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 31 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to optical enginering, at 30.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 30.7% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 29.6% |
| Master’s degree | 11.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.1% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| First professional degree | 1.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
12 occupations are related to Optical Enginering, with an average median salary of $92,493; the strongest outlook belongs to Solar Energy Systems Engineers, at 14.5% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Mechanical Engineering Professor, Engineering Instructor, Applied Mechanics Teacher and Electronics Teacher.
The occupation related to optical enginering with the most projected jobs is Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,297,204.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,297,204 | -2.0% |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | 440,884 | 8.0% |
| Nanosystems Engineers | 358,781 | -2.9% |
| Wind Energy Engineers | 353,305 | 12.7% |
| Engineers, All Other | 292,948 | -4.3% |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | 266,797 | 14.5% |
| Energy Engineers, Except Wind and Solar | 227,778 | 6.7% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 207,139 | 9.0% |
Optical Enginering graduates earn a median $82,517 one year after completing their program, $107,328 after four years and $106,226 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $82,517 |
| 4 years | $107,328 |
| 5 years | $106,226 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to optical enginering is Engineers, All Other, with a median salary of $136,628.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
| Microsystems Engineers | $104,558 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $101,277 |
| Wind Energy Engineers | $98,460 |
| Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers | $89,263 |
| Photonics Engineers | $84,667 |
Optical Enginering has 3 similar majors in the Engineering field, which together award 27,397 degrees a year; the largest are Electrical and Electronics Engineering (26,795), Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other (437) and Telecommunications Engineering (165). Browse all Engineering majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering | 26,795 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering, Other | 437 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 165 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
