2027 Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
[Optics/Optical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/optics-optical-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find the best return on investment for optics/optical sciences students.
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2027 Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optics/optical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools
Rowan University tops our 2027 list of the best value optics/optical sciences schools in the Middle Atlantic Region. Located in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,574, while out-of-state students pay about $26,932. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from Rowan University generally make around $52,031. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Rochester one of the best values for optics/optical sciences. Set in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,080. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Early-career optics/optical sciences graduates make about $60,865. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 40%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned it the #3 place for optics/optical sciences. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $24,958. Early-career optics/optical sciences graduates make about $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology is a great value for students pursuing a degree in optics/optical sciences, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester, Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $59,210. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career optics/optical sciences graduates make about $48,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 67% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
