Best Optics Universities in the World [2026 Rankings]

1

United States | California

Stanford University

For Optics

#1 in North America #1 in United States

4% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

2

United States | Massachusetts

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

For Optics

#2 in North America #2 in United States

5% Acceptance

4,535 Enrollment

1550 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

3

United States | Massachusetts

Harvard University

For Optics

#3 in North America #3 in United States

4% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1636 Founded

4

United States | California

University of California – Berkeley

For Optics

#4 in North America #4 in United States

11% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1175 Avg SAT

1868 Founded

5

Japan | Tokyo

University of Tokyo

For Optics

#1 in Asia #1 in Japan

36% Acceptance

28,918 Enrollment

1877 Founded

6

United States | Michigan

University of Michigan – Ann Arbor

For Optics

#5 in North America #5 in United States

16% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1445 Avg SAT

1817 Founded

7

United States | California

University of California – Los Angeles

For Optics

#6 in North America #6 in United States

9% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

8

United Kingdom | England

University of Cambridge

For Optics

#1 in Europe #1 in United Kingdom

21% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1209 Founded

9

United States | California

California Institute of Technology

For Optics

#7 in North America #7 in United States

3% Acceptance

26,133 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

10

China | Beijing

Tsinghua University

For Optics

#2 in Asia #1 in China

22% Acceptance

48,739 Enrollment

1911 Founded

11

United States | Illinois

University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign

For Optics

#8 in North America #8 in United States

42% Acceptance

37,140 Enrollment

1415 Avg SAT

1867 Founded

12

United States | New York State

Cornell University

For Optics

#9 in North America #9 in United States

9% Acceptance

16,128 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1865 Founded

13

Canada | Ontario

University of Toronto

For Optics

#10 in North America #1 in Canada

54% Acceptance

102,431 Enrollment

1827 Founded

14

Japan | Suita

Osaka University

For Optics

#3 in Asia #2 in Japan

13% Acceptance

23,234 Enrollment

1931 Founded

15

United States | Washington

University of Washington – Seattle

For Optics

#11 in North America #10 in United States

39% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1315 Avg SAT

1861 Founded

16

United Kingdom | England

University of Oxford

For Optics

#2 in Europe #2 in United Kingdom

22% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1096 Founded

17

United States | Maryland

Johns Hopkins University

For Optics

#12 in North America #11 in United States

6% Acceptance

6,636 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

18

United States | California

University of California-San Diego

For Optics

#13 in North America #12 in United States

27% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1960 Founded

19

United Kingdom | England

University College London

For Optics

#3 in Europe #3 in United Kingdom

36% Acceptance

42,000 Enrollment

1826 Founded

20

United Kingdom | England

Imperial College London

For Optics

#4 in Europe #4 in United Kingdom

41% Acceptance

17,565 Enrollment

1907 Founded

21

Japan | Kyoto

Kyoto University

For Optics

#4 in Asia #3 in Japan

11% Acceptance

22,365 Enrollment

1897 Founded

22

China | Hangzhou

Zhejiang University

For Optics

#5 in Asia #2 in China

20% Acceptance

60,739 Enrollment

1897 Founded

23

United States | Texas

University of Texas at Austin

For Optics

#14 in North America #13 in United States

27% Acceptance

43,165 Enrollment

1380 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

24

Switzerland | Lausanne

Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

For Optics

#5 in Europe #1 in Switzerland

23% Acceptance

12,576 Enrollment

25

Japan | Sendai

Tohoku University

For Optics

#6 in Asia #4 in Japan

30% Acceptance

17,975 Enrollment

1907 Founded

26

United States | Georgia, US

Georgia Institute of Technology

For Optics

#15 in North America #14 in United States

14% Acceptance

1,070 Enrollment

1455 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

27

United States | New Jersey

Princeton University

For Optics

#16 in North America #15 in United States

5% Acceptance

5,813 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1746 Founded

28

United States | Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin – Madison

For Optics

#17 in North America #16 in United States

45% Acceptance

38,040 Enrollment

1450 Avg SAT

1848 Founded

29

United States | Illinois

Northwestern University

For Optics

#18 in North America #17 in United States

8% Acceptance

9,399 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

30

Singapore | Singapore City

National University of Singapore

For Optics

#7 in Asia #1 in Singapore

20% Acceptance

30,098 Enrollment

1905 Founded

31

United States | Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania State University

For Optics

#19 in North America #18 in United States

61% Acceptance

42,604 Enrollment

1330 Avg SAT

1855 Founded

32

China | Hefei

University of Science and Technology of China

For Optics

#8 in Asia #3 in China

10% Acceptance

17,000 Enrollment

1958 Founded

33

Singapore | Singapore City

Nanyang Technological University

For Optics

#9 in Asia #2 in Singapore

38% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1955 Founded

34

United States | New York State

Columbia University

For Optics

#20 in North America #19 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

35

China | Shanghai

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

For Optics

#10 in Asia #4 in China

20% Acceptance

47,000 Enrollment

1896 Founded

36

China | Beijing

Peking University

For Optics

#11 in Asia #5 in China

21% Acceptance

44,730 Enrollment

1898 Founded

37

United States | Arizona

University of Arizona

For Optics

#21 in North America #20 in United States

86% Acceptance

37,297 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1885 Founded

38

Switzerland | Zurich

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich

For Optics

#6 in Europe #2 in Switzerland

8% Acceptance

23,420 Enrollment

39

United States | California

University of California – Santa Barbara

For Optics

#22 in North America #21 in United States

33% Acceptance

45,882 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1921 Founded

40

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania

For Optics

#23 in North America #22 in United States

5% Acceptance

1,947 Enrollment

1540 Avg SAT

1740 Founded

41

China | Hong Kong

University of Hong Kong

For Optics

#12 in Asia #6 in China

17% Acceptance

21,652 Enrollment

1911 Founded

42

China | Wuhan

Huazhong University of Science and Technology

For Optics

#13 in Asia #7 in China

26% Acceptance

71,970 Enrollment

1953 Founded

43

United States | Indiana

Purdue University

For Optics

#24 in North America #23 in United States

50% Acceptance

44,819 Enrollment

1340 Avg SAT

1869 Founded

44

United States | Maryland

University of Maryland – College Park

For Optics

#25 in North America #24 in United States

45% Acceptance

31,133 Enrollment

1465 Avg SAT

1856 Founded

45

United States | Minnesota

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

For Optics

#26 in North America #25 in United States

80% Acceptance

15,019 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1851 Founded

46

United States | New York State

University of Rochester

For Optics

#27 in North America #26 in United States

40% Acceptance

6,580 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

47

China | Harbin

Harbin Institute of Technology

For Optics

#14 in Asia #8 in China

16% Acceptance

33,496 Enrollment

1920 Founded

48

United States | Ohio

Ohio State University

For Optics

#28 in North America #27 in United States

61% Acceptance

10,603 Enrollment

1395 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

49

France | Ile-de-France

Pierre and Marie Curie University

For Optics

#7 in Europe #1 in France

20% Acceptance

35,114 Enrollment

1150 Founded

50

United States | California

University of Southern California

For Optics

#29 in North America #28 in United States

10% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1880 Founded

51

Japan | Tokyo

Tokyo Institute of Technology

For Optics

#15 in Asia #5 in Japan

10% Acceptance

6,551 Enrollment

1881 Founded

52

United Kingdom | England

University of Manchester

For Optics

#8 in Europe #5 in United Kingdom

40% Acceptance

27,513 Enrollment

1824 Founded

53

China | Nanjing

Nanjing University

For Optics

#16 in Asia #9 in China

24% Acceptance

56,068 Enrollment

1902 Founded

54

Belgium | Leuven

Catholic University of Leuven

For Optics

#9 in Europe #1 in Belgium

33% Acceptance

62,693 Enrollment

1425 Founded

55

United Kingdom | England

University of Southampton

For Optics

#10 in Europe #6 in United Kingdom

32% Acceptance

21,335 Enrollment

1952 Founded

56

Australia | Sydney

University of Sydney

For Optics

#1 in Oceania #1 in Australia

71% Acceptance

63,602 Enrollment

1850 Founded

57

United States | Connecticut

Yale University

For Optics

#30 in North America #29 in United States

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1701 Founded

58

South Korea | Seoul

Seoul National University

For Optics

#17 in Asia #1 in South Korea

20% Acceptance

28,378 Enrollment

1946 Founded

59

Netherlands | Delft

Delft University of Technology

For Optics

#11 in Europe #1 in Netherlands

50% Acceptance

24,703 Enrollment

1842 Founded

60

China | Changchun

Jilin University

For Optics

#18 in Asia #10 in China

30% Acceptance

68,000 Enrollment

1946 Founded

61

United States | Florida

University of Florida

For Optics

#31 in North America #30 in United States

24% Acceptance

36,573 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1853 Founded

62

China | Shanghai

Fudan University

For Optics

#19 in Asia #11 in China

18% Acceptance

33,000 Enrollment

1905 Founded

63

United States | California

University of California – Davis

For Optics

#32 in North America #31 in United States

42% Acceptance

25,685 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

64

United States | North Carolina

Duke University

For Optics

#33 in North America #32 in United States

6% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1838 Founded

65

United States | Colorado

University of Colorado Boulder

For Optics

#34 in North America #33 in United States

78% Acceptance

34,096 Enrollment

1335 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

66

Canada | British Columbia

University of British Columbia

For Optics

#35 in North America #2 in Canada

52% Acceptance

71,201 Enrollment

1908 Founded

67

United States | Illinois

University of Chicago

For Optics

#36 in North America #34 in United States

4% Acceptance

7,598 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

68

China | Guangzhou

Sun Yat – Sen University

For Optics

#20 in Asia #12 in China

30% Acceptance

65,638 Enrollment

1924 Founded

69

United States | Texas

Texas A&M University – College Station

For Optics

#37 in North America #35 in United States

57% Acceptance

60,710 Enrollment

1275 Avg SAT

1876 Founded

70

Germany | Bavaria

Technical University of Munich

For Optics

#12 in Europe #1 in Germany

46% Acceptance

44,000 Enrollment

1868 Founded

71

Taiwan | Taipei

National Taiwan University

For Optics

#21 in Asia #1 in Taiwan

34% Acceptance

33,882 Enrollment

1945 Founded

72

Australia | Canberra

Australian National University

For Optics

#2 in Oceania #2 in Australia

71% Acceptance

31,313 Enrollment

1946 Founded

73

China | Chengdu

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

For Optics

#22 in Asia #13 in China

30% Acceptance

39,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

74

China | Tianjin

Tianjin University

For Optics

#23 in Asia #14 in China

34% Acceptance

35,370 Enrollment

1895 Founded

75

Canada | Quebec State

McGill University

For Optics

#38 in North America #3 in Canada

46% Acceptance

37,888 Enrollment

1821 Founded

76

Denmark | Kongens Lyngby

Technical University of Denmark

For Optics

#13 in Europe #1 in Denmark

38% Acceptance

33,020 Enrollment

1829 Founded

77

United States | Utah

University of Utah

For Optics

#39 in North America #36 in United States

86% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1285 Avg SAT

1850 Founded

78

Germany | Bavaria

University of Munich

For Optics

#14 in Europe #2 in Germany

55% Acceptance

52,418 Enrollment

1472 Founded

79

China | Wuhan

Wuhan University

For Optics

#24 in Asia #15 in China

19% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

1893 Founded

80

China | Guangzhou

South China University of Technology

For Optics

#25 in Asia #16 in China

30% Acceptance

42,720 Enrollment

1952 Founded

81

South Korea | Daejeon

KAIST

For Optics

#26 in Asia #2 in South Korea

35% Acceptance

10,249 Enrollment

1971 Founded

82

Japan | Fukuoka

Kyushu University

For Optics

#28 in Asia #6 in Japan

14% Acceptance

18,813 Enrollment

1911 Founded

83

Japan | Nagoya

Nagoya University

For Optics

#29 in Asia #7 in Japan

14% Acceptance

15,959 Enrollment

1939 Founded

84

Austria | Vienna

Vienna University of Technology

For Optics

#15 in Europe #1 in Austria

34% Acceptance

29,341 Enrollment

1872 Founded

85

Australia | Melbourne

University of Melbourne

For Optics

#3 in Oceania #3 in Australia

77% Acceptance

77,162 Enrollment

1853 Founded

86

Sweden | Lund

Lund University

For Optics

#16 in Europe #1 in Sweden

58% Acceptance

40,000 Enrollment

1666 Founded

87

United States | Pennsylvania

Carnegie Mellon University

For Optics

#40 in North America #37 in United States

12% Acceptance

7,377 Enrollment

1535 Avg SAT

1900 Founded

88

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

For Optics

#17 in Europe #3 in Germany

26% Acceptance

23,321 Enrollment

2009 Founded

89

Israel | Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv University

For Optics

#30 in Asia #1 in Israel

44% Acceptance

30,000 Enrollment

1956 Founded

90

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

Heidelberg University – Germany

For Optics

#18 in Europe #4 in Germany

45% Acceptance

28,413 Enrollment

1386 Founded

91

Russia | Moscow

Moscow State University

For Optics

#19 in Europe #1 in Russia

12% Acceptance

20,188 Enrollment

1755 Founded

92

Australia | Sydney

University of New South Wales

For Optics

#4 in Oceania #4 in Australia

60% Acceptance

63,864 Enrollment

1949 Founded

93

China | Jinan

Shandong University

For Optics

#31 in Asia #18 in China

30% Acceptance

60,000 Enrollment

1901 Founded

94

China | Nanjing

Southeast University

For Optics

#32 in Asia #19 in China

20% Acceptance

30,664 Enrollment

1902 Founded

95

Brazil | Sao Paulo

University of Sao Paulo

For Optics

#1 in Latin America #1 in Brazil

9% Acceptance

97,964 Enrollment

1827 Founded

96

Germany | Bavaria

University of Erlangen Nuremberg

For Optics

#20 in Europe #5 in Germany

46% Acceptance

39,658 Enrollment

1743 Founded

97

United States | California

University of California – San Francisco

For Optics

#41 in North America #38 in United States

13% Acceptance

2,942 Enrollment

1100 Avg SAT

1864 Founded

98

United States | New York State

New York University

For Optics

#42 in North America #39 in United States

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

99

United States | Pennsylvania

University of Pittsburgh

For Optics

#43 in North America #40 in United States

58% Acceptance

25,900 Enrollment

1370 Avg SAT

1787 Founded

100

United States | California

University of California – Irvine

For Optics

#44 in North America #41 in United States

29% Acceptance

47,335 Enrollment

1500 Avg SAT

1965 Founded

100 Best Universities in the World for Optics

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