Compare 66 Laser and Optical Engineering. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $84,755.
With top graduates earning $101,471, Laser and Optical Engineering stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $17K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of Notre Dame's Laser and Optical Engineering program leads with graduates earning $101,471, well above the $85K average. Wayne State University follows at $98K, demonstrating how regional publics compete with prestigious privates. At $98K, University of Michigan-Dearborn rounds out the top three, proving program excellence transcends institutional hierarchy.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Notre Dame graduates borrow $19,000 and face just a 3.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Wayne State achieves an even better family burden at 7.3%, making loan payments barely dent graduates' budgets despite earning nearly $98K.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $101,471 | 41 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Good |
| #2 | Wayne State UniversityPublic | $97,679 | 64 | $21,250 | Excellent | $16,378 | Excellent |
| #3 | $97,518 | 105 | $22,500 | Excellent | $16,132 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $97,459 | 99 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Good | |
| #5 | $93,400 | 95 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Manageable | |
| #6 | Iowa State UniversityPublic | $92,805 | 119 | $22,869 | Excellent | $25,950 | Good |
| #7 | University Of St ThomasPrivate | $91,888 | 18 | $23,250 | Excellent | $24,467 | Good |
| #8 | $91,504 | 52 | $24,000 | Excellent | $31,458 | Good | |
| #9 | Oakland UniversityPublic | $91,496 | 108 | $22,750 | Excellent | $17,858 | Good |
| #10 | $91,422 | 25 | $23,250 | Excellent | $18,000 | Good | |
| #11 | $91,053 | 47 | $22,057 | Excellent | $14,269 | Excellent | |
| #12 | $90,757 | 221 | $19,500 | Excellent | $34,511 | Good | |
| #13 | University Of IowaPublic | $90,600 | 66 | $22,500 | Excellent | $27,975 | Good |
| #14 | Bradley UniversityPrivate | $90,424 | 21 | $27,000 | Excellent | $41,405 | Manageable |
| #15 | $89,197 | 22 | $21,056 | Excellent | $23,508 | Good | |
| #16 | $89,159 | 46 | $25,000 | Excellent | $71,022 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $89,146 | 77 | $24,990 | Excellent | $29,300 | Manageable | |
| #18 | $89,141 | 216 | $19,500 | Excellent | $29,448 | Good | |
| #19 | $89,107 | 37 | $25,000 | Excellent | $36,438 | Manageable | |
| #20 | Kettering UniversityPrivate | $88,785 | 64 | $27,000 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable |
| #21 | $88,673 | 41 | $26,188 | Excellent | $22,488 | Good | |
| #22 | $88,286 | 24 | $27,000 | Excellent | $23,103 | Good | |
| #23 | $88,063 | 33 | $20,000 | Excellent | $15,027 | Excellent | |
| #24 | University Of ToledoPublic | $88,001 | 54 | $22,250 | Excellent | $19,243 | Good |
| #25 | $87,656 | 248 | $19,976 | Excellent | $25,868 | 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 →
