by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, optical enginering was the 923rd most popular major nationwide with 121 degrees awarded. This represents a 9.1% reduction in optical enginering degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 132.
This year's Best Optical Enginering Schools ranking compares 4 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom optical enginering rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in optical enginering is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems and giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional optical enginering certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Optical Enginering degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in optical enginering to something that takes less time like a . Optical Enginering programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to optical enginering, with approximately 57.9% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for optical enginering workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 59.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 18.7% |
| Doctoral Degree | 8.8% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 3.2% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.3% |
96.1% of optical enginering workers have at least a bachelor's. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in optical enginering have received.
The education level required is different depending on the optical enginering career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your optical enginering degree? Optical Enginering careers are expected to grow 7.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to optical enginering.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 190,000 | 5.5% |
| Engineers | 141,000 | 6.4% |
| Engineering Professors | 54,600 | 14.7% |
As you might expect, salaries for optical enginering graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for optical enginering graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers optical enginering grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $148,970 |
| Engineering Professors | $113,680 |
| Engineers | $99,410 |
With over 11 different optical enginering degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased optical enginering school rankings to help you with this.
One of 3 majors within the Electrical Engineering area of study, Optical Enginering has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Electrical Engineering | 28,166 |
| Other Electrical Engineering | 424 |
| Telecommunications Engineering | 133 |
