[Optics/Optical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/optics-optical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 20 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value optics/optical sciences schools.
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Finding the Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences School for You
Where you study optics/optical sciences affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we built our Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Best Value Optics/Optical Sciences Schools list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
For return on investment in optics/optical sciences, no school beat Washington State University this year. Washington State University is a very large public school located in the town of Pullman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,391, compared with $29,950 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $21,903. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Washington State University earn a median of $54,697 early in their careers. Set against $21,903 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Washington State University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of California Davis earned it the #2 place for optics/optical sciences. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,804 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $47,692. Students borrow a median of $16,464 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $53,749. That is a strong return on a $16,464 median debt. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in optics/optical sciences will find it at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $28,750 in student loans. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $70,150 early in their careers. Set against $28,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 80% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of Arizona one of the best values for optics/optical sciences. University Of Arizona is a very large public school located in the city of Tucson. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, compared with $39,903 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,650 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $107,496. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Oklahoma State University Main Campus earned it the #5 place for optics/optical sciences. Set in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,110 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,630 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $22,337 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $50,993 early in their careers. Set against $22,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value optics/optical sciences schools. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,140, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $19,738. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of University Of New Mexico Main Campus earn a median of $49,983 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Bridgewater State University earned the #7 position for value in optics/optical sciences this year. Located in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,734, while out-of-state students pay about $17,874. Students borrow a median of $26,632 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $48,937 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,632 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Ohio State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for optics/optical sciences. Located in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,244, compared with $40,022 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,357 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $58,088 early in their careers. Set against $23,357 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Montana State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value optics/optical sciences schools. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, while out-of-state students pay about $33,287. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,635 in student loans. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Montana State University earn a median of $47,703 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Clemson University earned the #10 position for value in optics/optical sciences this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Optics/optical Sciences graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Clemson University earn a median of $53,834 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Rowan University placed #11 among the best values for optics/optical sciences. Set in the suburb of Glassboro, Rowan University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,574, compared with $26,932 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Optics/optical Sciences graduates of Rowan University earn a median of $36,435 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Rochester Institute Of Technology landed the #12 spot for optics/optical sciences value this year. Rochester Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rochester. In-state tuition and fees average $59,210. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the optics/optical sciences program here. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from Rochester Institute Of Technology generally make around $48,374. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus landed the #13 spot for optics/optical sciences value this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $21,926 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $41,430. Typical student debt for optics/optical sciences graduates is $24,958. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. That is a strong return on a $24,958 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
University Of Rochester landed the #14 spot for optics/optical sciences value this year. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. 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. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Rochester admits about 40% of applicants.
This list is compiled 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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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).
[Optics/Optical Sciences](/majors/physical-sciences/physics/optics-optical-sciences/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
