Compare 58 Laser and Optical Engineering. programs in the West. Average earnings: $93,335.
With top graduates earning $202,911, 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 $70K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
The University of California-Berkeley leads with Laser and Optical Engineering graduates earning $202,911, while the average across all Western programs is $93,335. Stanford follows at $154,251, but the real story is San Jose State at $123,144—a regional public delivering strong outcomes that rival elite institutions.
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 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 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $154,251 | 46 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Excellent |
| #3 | $123,144 | 96 | $15,000 | Excellent | $20,820 | Excellent | |
| #4 | $113,850 | 60 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Good | |
| #5 | $110,760 | 157 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Excellent | |
| #6 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $109,788 | 23 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #7 | $102,419 | 52 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Excellent | |
| #8 | $102,389 | 159 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Excellent | |
| #9 | Boise State UniversityPublic | $100,027 | 61 | $20,500 | Excellent | $18,968 | Excellent |
| #10 | $99,815 | 58 | $16,666 | Excellent | $28,682 | Good | |
| #11 | $99,426 | 130 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #12 | $98,169 | 85 | $13,872 | Excellent | $13,522 | Excellent | |
| #13 | $97,245 | 28 | $18,450 | Excellent | $13,000 | Excellent | |
| #14 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $97,216 | 24 | $22,940 | Excellent | $56,559 | Manageable |
| #15 | Oregon State UniversityPublic | $96,536 | 116 | $21,221 | Excellent | $28,923 | Good |
| #16 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $95,718 | 128 | $19,620 | Excellent | $30,126 | Good |
| #17 | $95,564 | 96 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Excellent | |
| #18 | Brigham Young UniversityPrivate | $95,202 | 61 | $11,069 | Excellent | $9,699 | Excellent |
| #19 | University Of UtahPublic | $93,865 | 46 | $19,000 | Excellent | $18,886 | Excellent |
| #20 | $93,730 | 100 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Excellent | |
| #21 | Colorado School Of MinesPublic | $93,671 | 77 | $23,000 | Excellent | $53,505 | Manageable |
| #22 | $93,024 | 35 | $22,500 | Excellent | $22,978 | Good | |
| #23 | $92,752 | 224 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Good | |
| #24 | $92,588 | 218 | $19,500 | Excellent | $23,519 | Good | |
| #25 | $91,800 | 110 | $13,000 | Excellent | $12,526 | Excellent |
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 →
