2027 Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in North Carolina
[Optics/Optical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/optics-optical-sciences/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong optics/optical sciences education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 2 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 North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in optics/optical sciences, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earned the #1 spot for value among optics/optical sciences schools in North Carolina. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $28,750. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $70,150. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Duke University earned it the #2 place for optics/optical sciences. Duke University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Durham. In-state tuition and fees average $68,758. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $13,296. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from Duke University generally make around $83,388. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duke University admits about 6% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 2 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.
