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2026 Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in New York

[Optics/Optical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/optics-optical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.

College Factual analyzed 3 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value optics/optical sciences schools.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in New York

2026 Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in New York

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optics/optical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools

1

Rochester Institute Of Technology
Rochester, NY

$59,210 In-State Tuition & Fees

$27,000 Avg Student Debt

$76,571 Median Earnings (10yr)

Our analysis ranked Rochester Institute Of Technology the best value for a degree in optics/optical sciences in New York. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $59,210. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Rochester Institute Of Technology earn a median of $48,374 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.

2

University Of Rochester
Rochester, NY

$67,080 In-State Tuition & Fees

$19,000 Avg Student Debt

$79,042 Median Earnings (10yr)

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. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $67,080. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans. Early-career optics/optical sciences graduates make about $60,865. That is a strong return on a $19,000 median debt. Roughly 40% of applicants are accepted.

View All Optics/Optical Sciences Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 3 schools evaluated.

*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.