2027 Best Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region

Optics/Optical Sciences is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their optics/optical sciences programs.

To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 2 schools to find the best for optics/optical sciences students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Optics/Optical Sciences Schools in the Southwest Region

Best Schools for Optics/Optical Sciences in the Southwest Region

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the optics/optical sciences degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Optics/Optical Sciences

1

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

101 Optics/Optical Sciences Degrees Awarded

$107,496 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of Arizona, our #1 school for optics/optical sciences. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 101 optics/optical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of Arizona in the most recent year. Students who receive their optics/optical sciences degree from University Of Arizona earn around $107,496 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Arizona graduates carry a median of $20,650 in student loans. See the full optics/optical sciences program report for University Of Arizona

2

University Of New Mexico Main Campus
Albuquerque, NM

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

17 Optics/Optical Sciences Degrees Awarded

$49,983 Median Starting Salary

University Of New Mexico Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in optics/optical sciences, ranking #2. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. University Of New Mexico Main Campus graduates 54% of students within six years. About 17 optics/optical sciences degrees were awarded at University Of New Mexico Main Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their optics/optical sciences degree from University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn around $49,983 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,738. Get the full optics/optical sciences details for University Of New Mexico Main Campus

Notes and References

This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 2 schools evaluated.

• 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.