Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards.Our methodology

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Best Laser and Optical Engineering. Programs in the West (2025)

Compare 58 Laser and Optical Engineering. programs in the West. Average earnings: $93,335.

Average Program Earnings: $93,335

All 58 Programs

Rank	School	Program Earnings	Cohort Size	Student Debt	Student GPS	Parent Debt	Parent GPS
#51	Seattle Pacific UniversityPrivate	$81,199	13	$24,000	Excellent	$37,687	Manageable
#52	Montana Technological UniversityPublic	$80,579	12	$18,750	Excellent	$12,000	Excellent
#53	Western Washington UniversityPublic	$77,516	23	$18,500	Excellent	$23,123	Good
#54	Eastern Washington UniversityPublic	$77,350	46	$19,500	Excellent	$17,148	Good
#55	Idaho State UniversityPublic	$76,460	14	$20,039	Excellent	$14,334	Good
#56	New Mexico Institute Of Mining And TechnologyPublic	$73,300	32	$19,085	Excellent	$17,000	Good
#57	University Of WyomingPublic	$63,005	24	$18,000	Excellent	$16,000	Manageable
#58	Sonoma State UniversityPublic	$54,713	14	$16,705	Excellent	$27,986	Challenging

#51Seattle Pacific University

Seattle, WA • Private nonprofit

💰

$81,199Program Earnings

Cohort

$24,000

Student Debt

$37,687

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

5.6% burden

15.7% burden

#52Montana Technological University

Butte, MT • Public

💰

$80,579Program Earnings

Cohort

$18,750

Student Debt

$12,000

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

4.4% burden

7.7% burden

#53Western Washington University

Bellingham, WA • Public

💰

$77,516Program Earnings

Cohort

$18,500

Student Debt

$23,123

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

4.6% burden

11.2% burden

#54Eastern Washington University

Cheney, WA • Public

💰

$77,350Program Earnings

Cohort

$19,500

Student Debt

$17,148

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

4.9% burden

9.8% burden

#55Idaho State University

Pocatello, ID • Public

💰

$76,460Program Earnings

Cohort

$20,039

Student Debt

$14,334

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

5.1% burden

9.3% burden

#56New Mexico Institute Of Mining And Technology

Socorro, NM • Public

💰

$73,300Program Earnings

Cohort

$19,085

Student Debt

$17,000

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

5.2% burden

10.4% burden

#57University Of Wyoming

Laramie, WY • Public

💰

$63,005Program Earnings

Cohort

$18,000

Student Debt

$16,000

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

6.1% burden

12.3% burden

#58Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA • Public

💰

$54,713Program Earnings

Cohort

$16,705

Student Debt

$27,986

Parent Debt

GPS Affordability(What's this?)

7.1% burden

20.9% burden

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Showing 51–58 of 58 schools

How These Rankings Work

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.

Methodology

• Data Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard
• Metric: Median earnings 4 years after graduation for this specific field
• Ranking: Schools sorted by program earnings (highest to lowest)
• Minimum threshold: Only programs with 5+ graduates included

Important Caveats

• "Best" = highest earnings — not necessarily the best fit for every student
• Earnings reflect graduates from ~6-8 years ago; programs may have changed
• Programs with small cohorts (5-30 graduates) have higher variance
• Schools in high-cost areas may show higher earnings that reflect location, not program quality

Our Methodology →About Azimuth →

Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →