by our College Data Analytics Team
[Optical Enginering](/majors/engineering/ee-electrical-engineering/laser-optical-engineering/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 1 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for optical enginering students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the optical enginering degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of Dayton, our #1 best value for optical enginering in Ohio. Set in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $49,140. Typical student debt for optical enginering graduates is $26,625. Early-career optical enginering graduates make about $87,094. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 1 school evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.