Compare 258 Laser and Optical Engineering. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $98,163. Top programs: $250,168+.
The highest-earning Laser and Optical Engineering program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $200K earnings gap across 258 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand. From $50K to $250K in graduate earnings, where you study this field matters far more than the school's overall reputation.
Carnegie Mellon University's Laser and Optical Engineering program leads the nation, with graduates earning $250,168—more than 2.5x the field average of $98,163. UC Berkeley ranks second at $200,543, a public university outpacing virtually every private competitor on earnings. The message is clear: a school's overall prestige ranking tells you almost nothing about what its optics graduates will earn.
High earnings mean little if debt consumes them. UC Berkeley graduates borrow just $13,000 in student loans and carry a 1.0% payment burden—landing firmly in the 'Excellent' tier, where loan payments are essentially trivial against post-grad income. For families factoring in parent loans, Berkeley still leads with a 3.5% combined burden, also rated 'Excellent'—making it the standout on both measures.
Highest program earnings: $250,168
Strong outcomes ($118,290) with 66% acceptance rate
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 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | $250,168 | 166 | $21,750 | Excellent | $37,130 | Excellent |
| #2 | $200,543 | 528 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Excellent | |
| #3 | $161,118 | 73 | $14,768 | Excellent | $42,501 | Excellent | |
| #4 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $147,241 | 87 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Excellent |
| #5 | $146,003 | 320 | $20,500 | Excellent | $26,632 | Excellent | |
| #6 | $143,332 | 24 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Excellent | |
| #7 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $139,616 | 12 | — | — | — | — |
| #8 | $139,068 | 31 | $15,000 | Excellent | $17,804 | Excellent | |
| #9 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $136,656 | 49 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Excellent |
| #10 | $131,532 | 18 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Excellent | |
| #11 | $126,209 | 142 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Excellent | |
| #12 | $125,240 | 136 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Excellent | |
| #13 | $118,290 | 40 | $16,666 | Excellent | $28,682 | Excellent | |
| #14 | $118,150 | 218 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Excellent | |
| #15 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $118,150 | 87 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Good |
| #16 | $117,813 | 17 | $19,085 | Excellent | $17,000 | Excellent | |
| #17 | $117,610 | 119 | $19,500 | Excellent | $30,250 | Excellent | |
| #18 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $117,229 | 28 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Good |
| #19 | $117,215 | 68 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Excellent | |
| #20 | $116,010 | 226 | $14,615 | Excellent | $24,883 | Excellent | |
| #21 | $115,939 | 25 | $27,000 | Excellent | $16,012 | Excellent | |
| #22 | $113,627 | 24 | $20,000 | Excellent | $21,710 | Excellent | |
| #23 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $112,828 | 45 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Good |
| #24 | Sonoma State UniversityPublic | $112,757 | 25 | $16,705 | Excellent | $27,986 | Excellent |
| #25 | $112,454 | 38 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
