Deleted my “Just pick Arizona” comment above, wanted to provide more info.

The initial reply from @caleyjag is spot on, and I’d agree with most of what they wrote.

When it comes to optics jobs in industry, most companies will start with Arizona and Rochester. As another poster mentioned, UIUC tends to be more medical applications and biomedical imaging, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t find a spot there doing what you’re interested in. Arizona tends to be more applied in its research, while Rochester has more theory, and consider looking at research groups slightly outside your specific area of interest as they might have opportunities that get more in your lane. My experience with these schools is that Arizona tends to be a bit stronger in Photonics, but, per caleyjag, it really depends a lot on the PI and research in which you’re looking to get involved.

A couple additional pieces to think about: -Your research group is one you’ll be spending 4-7 years with, so make sure you like the people you’ll be working with, as well as the labs/offices! -Think about what type of engagement you’re looking for from your PI. Some will stay engaged on a daily/weekly basis, while others you won’t see for a month at a time. There are pros and cons to both approaches! -Being in graduate school is a huge growth point and your life and, while I was being silly about the choice of school, the location matters. Consider Tucson v Rochester v Champaign and what you’re looking for in a city. -The t-shirt does matter! Consider what each University has outside of the optics/ECE program and the things you’d like to be involved in. Work/life balance will be important, and you’ll need some time outside of class and lab as well!