Compare 260 Laser and Optical Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $87,376. Top programs: $202,911+.
The highest-earning Laser and Optical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $101K earnings gap across 261 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of California-Berkeley's Laser and Optical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $202,911. MIT follows at $172,897, with Stanford third at $154,251. Against an $87,275 average, these top programs demonstrate how specialized engineering fields reward program excellence over general institutional prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UC Berkeley graduates borrow $13,000 and face just a 1.0% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their $203K post-grad income, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.06.
Highest program earnings: $202,911
Strong outcomes ($123,144) with 80% acceptance
1.0% payment burden | Excellent
3.5% family burden | Excellent
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $202,911 | 452 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #2 | $172,897 | 44 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #3 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $154,251 | 46 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Excellent |
| #4 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $149,740 | 140 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Excellent |
| #5 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $139,102 | 38 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Excellent |
| #6 | $123,144 | 96 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #7 | $119,602 | 265 | $21,500 | Excellent | $25,294 | Excellent | |
| #8 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $118,743 | 100 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #9 | $113,850 | 60 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #10 | $110,760 | 157 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Excellent | |
| #11 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $110,524 | 16 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #12 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $109,788 | 23 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #13 | $108,798 | 33 | $27,000 | Excellent | $53,192 | Manageable | |
| #14 | $106,557 | 358 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Good | |
| #15 | $103,662 | 29 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Good | |
| #16 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $103,652 | 59 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Good |
| #17 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $102,976 | 19 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Good |
| #18 | $102,419 | 52 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Excellent | |
| #19 | $102,389 | 159 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Excellent | |
| #20 | $102,236 | 91 | $23,750 | Excellent | $52,241 | Manageable | |
| #21 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $101,471 | 41 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Good |
| #22 | Boise State UniversityPublic | $100,027 | 61 | $20,500 | Excellent | $18,968 | Excellent |
| #23 | $99,815 | 58 | $16,666 | Excellent | $28,682 | Good | |
| #24 | $99,426 | 130 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #25 | $99,262 | 69 | $20,500 | Excellent | $25,645 | Good |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
