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Optoelectronics engineer education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an optoelectronics engineer. Optoelectronics engineers usually study electrical engineering, physics, or mechanical engineering. 57% of optoelectronics engineers hold a master's degree, and 43% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 16 real optoelectronics engineer resumes to see exactly what optoelectronics engineer education sections show.

The most common colleges for optoelectronics engineers are the University of Rochester and the University of Rochester.

There are also many online optoelectronics engineer courses to help get the education required to be an optoelectronics engineer.

What education do you need to become an optoelectronics engineer?

What degree do you need to be an optoelectronics engineer?

  • Master's, 57%
  • Bachelor's, 43%

What should I major in to become an optoelectronics engineer?

You should major in electrical engineering to become an optoelectronics engineer. 50% of optoelectronics engineers major in electrical engineering. Other common majors for an optoelectronics engineer include physics and mechanical engineering.

Most common colleges for optoelectronics engineers

Optoelectronics engineers often get their degrees at University of Rochester, California State University - Long Beach, and Southern Methodist University. Here are the most common colleges for optoelectronics engineers in the US based on their resumes.
Optoelectronics engineer common collegePercentages
University of Rochester18.18%
California State University - Long Beach18.18%
Southern Methodist University9.09%
Tufts University9.09%
University of Maryland - College Park9.09%

Best majors for optoelectronics engineers

Best colleges for optoelectronics engineers

The best colleges for optoelectronics engineers are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and California Institute of Technology.

An optoelectronics engineer with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for optoelectronics engineers. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become optoelectronics engineers.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

3. Georgia Institute of Technology

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$12,424

Enrollment

15,201

4. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,832

Enrollment

4,550

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI • Private

In-state tuition

$15,262

Enrollment

30,079

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

9. Lehigh University

Bethlehem, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$52,930

Enrollment

5,030

10. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

Pomona, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,353

Enrollment

24,841

20 best online courses for optoelectronics engineers

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1. Active Optical Devices

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The courses in this specialization can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5605-5607, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Enroll here.\n\nThis Active Optical Devices specialization is designed to help you gain complete understanding of active optical devices by clearly defining and interconnecting the fundamental physical mechanisms, device design principles, and device performance. You will study and gain active experience with light emitting...

2. Optical Engineering

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The courses in this specialization can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5600-5602, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Enroll here.\n\nOptical instruments are how we see the world, from corrective eyewear to medical endoscopes to cell phone cameras to orbiting telescopes. This course will teach you how to design such optical systems with simple graphical techniques, then transform those pencil and paper designs to include real optical components...

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4. Optical Fiber Transmission Networks Using DWDM Technology

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All you require to start with DWDM Technology, fundamentals, components: Mux/Demux, ROADMS, Amplifiers, transponders etc...

5. Design of High-Performance Optical Systems

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This course can also be taken for academic credit as ECEA 5602, part of CU Boulder’s Master of Science in Electrical Engineering degree. Optical instruments are how we see the world, from corrective eyewear to medical endoscopes to cell phone cameras to orbiting telescopes. This course extends what you have learned about first-order, paraxial system design and optical resolution and efficiency with the introduction to real lenses and their imperfections. We begin with a description of how...

6. Waves and Optics

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This specialization is for learners who have completed a first-year university-level physics course and wants to continue their study. Through three courses, you will gain a foundation in waves and optics ranging from simple oscillators and waves in strings, to advanced diffraction effects of electromagnetic waves. With an entire semester of lectures and over 100 problems, this comprehensive specialization is similar in detail and rigor to what is taught in on-campus courses. It will thoroughly...

7. Introduction To Fiber Optic Cabling

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8. Complete Eagle CAD PCB Design: Theory and Practical approach

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9. Python Optical Character Recognition using Pytorch

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Note: The rhyme platform currently does not support webcams, so this is not a live project. This guided project is about optical character recognition using Pythorch, a Python library. This comes under the computer vision domain. While you are watching me code, you will get a cloud desktop with all the required software pre-installed. This will allow you to code along with me. After all, we learn best with active, hands-on learning. Note: This project works best for learners who are based in...

10. Work with Components in Figma

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Components are popular in engineering and used for building user interfaces and games. Components are elements that you can use in designs when working with Figma. They help to make your projects have consistency. Adding the concept of components to a design tool makes the composition of complex designs more consistent and efficient. The great part of components in Figma is that Figma wants to make components easy to learn and use while still being powerful enough for advanced users. Learning...

11. Product Development & Systems Engineering

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12. Web Components & Stencil.js - Build Custom HTML Elements

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A Complete Introduction to building Custom HTML Elements/ Web Components with and without Stencil JS...

13. PCB Design using OrCAD/Allegro from Basics to Expert level

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Learn Or CAD/Allegro PCB Design: Schematic (Or CAD Capture), Footprint's (Package Editor) & Board Design(PCB Editor)...

14. Azure Synapse Analytics For Data Engineers -Hands On Project

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Hands on Project for Data Engineers using all the services available in Azure Synapse Analytics [DP-203, DP-500]...

15. IT network cabling: The complete fiber optics course

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Demystifying fiber optics, the fastest growing ICT network infrastructure sector one lesson at a time!...

16. Mechanical design and Product development process

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Learn the basic ideas and concepts behind developing mechanical products related to mechanical engineering...

17. Fusion 360 for 3D Printing - Designing with Components

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Design a multi part model by using components and other powerful tools to design an led lamp that switches on and off...

18. Crash Course Electronics and PCB Design

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Learn Electronics and PCB Design from the Ground up with Altium Circuit Maker and Labcenter Proteus...

19. PCB Design for everyone with EasyEDA a free and online tool

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Learn PCB Design without any costly software, with easyeda: a free online and powerful tool for professional PCB Design...

20. React styled components / styled-components [V5 EDITION]

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Ditch CSS stylesheets! Learn CSS in JS to quickly and cleanly style React components with the styled components library...

Top 10 most affordable universities for optoelectronics engineers

The most affordable schools for optoelectronics engineers are United States Merchant Marine Academy, university of florida, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for optoelectronics engineers are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for optoelectronics engineers.

1. United States Merchant Marine Academy

Kings Point, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$1,080

Cost of attendance

6,646

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology

Socorro, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,770

Cost of attendance

21,244

5. University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez

Mayaguez, PR • Private

In-state tuition

$4,094

Cost of attendance

14,302

6. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

7. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

8. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. California State University - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,749

Cost of attendance

14,823

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for optoelectronics engineers

The hardest universities for optoelectronics engineers to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and California Institute of Technology.

Some great schools for optoelectronics engineers are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for optoelectronics engineers based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. California Institute of Technology

Pasadena, CA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,566

4. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

5. Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

17%

SAT average

1,507

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

7. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

8. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

9. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

7%

SAT average

1,545

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for optoelectronics engineers

The easiest schools for optoelectronics engineers to get into are Texas A&M; University - Kingsville, oregon institute of technology, and the university of texas at el paso.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an optoelectronics engineer without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for optoelectronics engineers.

1. Texas A&M University - Kingsville

Kingsville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

89%

SAT average

1,035

2. Oregon Institute of Technology

Klamath Falls, OR • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,139

3. The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,035

4. Saint Cloud State University

Saint Cloud, MN • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

1,086

5. Old Dominion University

Norfolk, VA • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,093

6. Lamar University

Beaumont, TX • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,043

7. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

8. Pennsylvania State University - Fayette (The Eberly Campus)

Lemont Furnace, PA • Private

Admissions rate

80%

SAT average

1,067

9. Cleveland State University

Cleveland, OH • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,111

10. San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA • Private

Admissions rate

72%

SAT average

1,054

Average optoelectronics engineer salary by education level

According to our data, optoelectronics engineers with a Master's degree earn the highest average salary, at $93,835 annually. Optoelectronics engineers with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $85,405.
Optoelectronics engineer education levelOptoelectronics engineer salary
Master's Degree$93,835
Bachelor's Degree$85,405
Some College/ Associate Degree$74,181

Optoelectronics engineer education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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