by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 15 U.S. colleges awarded 267 degrees and certificates in Optics/Optical Sciences. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Optics/Optical Sciences Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing, rising to $85,749 after four years.
A major in Optics/Optical Sciences explores 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. Examples: [Electro-Optics], [Atmospheric And Space Optics].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, optics/optical sciences draws strong interest, with 267 degrees awarded annually. 15 colleges award optics/optical sciences degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 101.
By level, the 267 awards include 53 bachelor’s degrees, 147 master’s degrees and 67 doctorates.
Women earned 26% of optics/optical sciences degrees and certificates in the latest year (70 of 267). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (115) and Hispanic or Latino (28), and international students earned 74.
College Factual ranks 5 schools in its 2027 Best Optics/Optical Sciences Schools ranking, including 3 for bachelor’s degrees, 3 for master’s degrees and 3 for doctorates. It also ranks optics/optical sciences schools within 4 states. In all, 15 colleges offer optics/optical sciences programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common optics/optical sciences credential is the master’s degree: 147 of the 267 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to optics/optical sciences call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
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How long an optics/optical sciences degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 53 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 147 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 67 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to optics/optical sciences, at 32.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.0% |
| Master’s degree | 14.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Optics/Optical Sciences, with an average median salary of $123,067; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator, Clinical Trials Manager and Clinical Trial Coordinator.
The occupation related to optics/optical sciences with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Physicists | 118,738 | 8.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Optics/Optical Sciences graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing their program, $85,749 after four years and $87,663 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,584 |
| 4 years | $85,749 |
| 5 years | $87,663 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to optics/optical sciences is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
Optics/Optical Sciences has 8 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 13,662 degrees a year; the largest are Physics, General (12,923), Physics, Other (480) and Acoustics (189). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, General | 12,923 |
| Physics, Other | 480 |
| Acoustics | 189 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 12 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 12 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 5 |
| Nuclear Physics | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
