2026 Best Optics/Optical Sciences Master’s Degree Schools

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.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for optics/optical sciences students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

• Best Master’s Degree Optics/Optical Sciences Schools
• Other Degree Levels

Best Schools for Optics/Optical Sciences in the United States

See the highest-ranked optics/optical sciences schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Optics/Optical Sciences

1

University Of Rochester
Rochester, NY

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

27 Optics/Optical Sciences Degrees Awarded

$60,865 Median Starting Salary

Leading the list is University Of Rochester, our #1 school for optics/optical sciences. Located in the city of Rochester, University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 85%. University Of Rochester awarded about 27 optics/optical sciences degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optics/optical sciences degree recipients from University Of Rochester generally make around $60,865. Students borrow a median of $19,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in optics/optical sciences from University Of Rochester

2

University Of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Doctoral Degree Highest Degree Type

66 Optics/Optical Sciences Degrees Awarded

$107,496 Median Starting Salary

University Of Arizona is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optics/optical sciences, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 66 optics/optical sciences students who graduated with this degree at University Of Arizona in the most recent data 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. Typical student debt for the program is $20,650. See the full optics/optical sciences program report for University Of Arizona

Other Optics/Optical Sciences Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Optics/Optical Sciences rankings across degree levels:

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 20 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.