In 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its occupational outlook for professionals in the field of optometry. Requiring a doctoral or professional degree, the Doctor of Optometry (OD), this career has an impressive 10-year job outlook of 27% overall and an estimated 11,000 jobs before 2024. Doctors of Optometry earn a median average of $103,900 (as of 2015) with an upper range of $187,200 dependent on locale. The reputable rankings provided by U.S. News and World Report rates optometry #9 in its Best Healthcare Jobs in the nation with a 1% unemployment rate.
Schools of Optometry in the US date to the early 1800s and have evolved into four year, professional degree programs which hold accreditation by the Accreditation Council of Optometric Education (ACOE), which maintains quality standards for optometry education. Graduates of optometry schools are eligible to sit for the National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) and most schools publish their NBEO pass rates on their website. Admissions for OD students is usually limited to 100-200 students due to the intense hands on and clinical requirements for degree completion.
Federal Financial Aid
You may consider completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. which is used by schools and banks to determine if you qualify for federal, student loans. Schools, and other funding opportunities, often require the filing of a FASA is also needed for any scholarship consideration. Prospective students may also want to research possible funding as suggested by the American Optometric Association (AOA) listing of resources.
Veterans, Active Military, Spouses and Dependents
If you are active military, spouse, dependent or veteran, be certain to check if your school offers military discounts. Often, that information is provided on the Financial Aid, Bursar or Treasurers website for your school.
Best Medical Degrees ranked optometry #4 in its 50 Top Paying Healthcare Careers; and has created the list below considering tuition costs (not additional fees), curriculum, accreditation, program length and ranking and, where applicable, by U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review or Forbes Magazine.
1. Southern College of Optometry
The Memphis, Tennessee based Southern College of Optometry, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to confer a Doctor of Optometry degree. Founded in 1932, the college boasts a 9:1 student/teacher ratio, 32 residency programs (exceeding all other national optometry colleges) and has a 20-year 0% student debt rate on student loans. The school offers a limited regional tuition program for students living in Arkansas, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
Coursework for this degree covers topics in ocular sciences (theory, anatomy and physiology), evidence based medicine, medical pathology, neuro eye diseases, systemic diseases and ocular manifestations, pediatric and adult primary care. The fourth year requires clinical experiences and externships.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $76,416 (Regional); $138,816 (Non Regional)
2. University of Alabama School of Optometry
Offering a four-year Doctor of Optometry degree. The School of Optometry was established in 1969 and has held accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association for the past 40 years. The University of Alabama has been consistently ranked by US News and World Report, with the school rating in the top 200 in National Universities and in the top 100 of its Top Public Schools. Located in Birmingham, Alabama, the university has a current 18,000 student enrollment.
The UAB School of Optometry provides courses from its department and the Joint Health Service departments. Early courses will focus on basic science and vision science, such as optics, neuroscience, eye movements, gross anatomy, pediatric optometry, public health optometry, glaucoma, etc. Students will also be transitioned to clinical experiences. The final year is devoted to on and off campus clinical rotations. This school also provides a OD/MBA dual optometry and business administration degree. UABSO also is one of the few schools which offers an Optometry Residency program.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $99,763 (Resident); $202,052 (Non Resident)
3. Indiana School of Optometry
Established in 1951, the Indiana School of Optometry is part of the Indiana University, Bloomington; and, holds accreditation from The Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) and Indiana University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The Indiana University has an enrollment of over 48,000 students and has been ranked #86 by US News and World Report’s National Universities ratings.
This is a four year Doctor of Optometry program which includes academic and clinical practice. Coursework includes: Geometric and Visual Optics, Systems Approach to Biomedical Science, Ocular Biology, Clinical Sciences, Introduction to Epidemiology and Optometric Research, Ophthalmic, General Pharmacology, Clinical Sciences, Ocular Pharmacology, Contact Lenses, Ocular Diseases and clinical experiences in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Applicants are required to hold 90 hours of college credit for admissions, with 20 of those hours in courses must be in the 300-400 level.
Length of Program: 165.5 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $102,834 (Resident); $152,978 (Non Residents)
4. Ohio State University College of Optometry
Students in this Doctor of Optometry program begin seeing students in the first year of study while studying coursework in Biochemistry for Optometry, General and Histological Anatomy, Geometric Optics, Ocular Anatomy, Ocular Physiology, etc.; and, participating in the fourth year In-House Internship and Externship. The OSU College of Optometry also provides a dual degree program with a Master of Science and OD diploma for those enrolled in the College of Optometry.
Accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association, the OSU College Of Optometry was established in 1907 by an assistant professor of physics with an interest in optics. The School of Optometry was created in the College of Arts and Sciences in 1935. Located in the Ohio capital city of Columbus, Ohio State University is ranked #54 in US News and World Report’s National Universities and #16 in its Top Public Schools listings.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $103,584 (Resident); $124,630 (Non Resident)
5. Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry
This ACOE accredited program is for a Doctor of Optometry degree which is approximately 4 years in length. There are two admission options for this degree, which include the Regular Admissions Program and the 3+4 Admissions Program. The Regular Admissions program requires a baccalaureate degree and pre-requisite courses as described on the website. The 3+4 Admissions Program allows students to complete only 3 years of a baccalaureate and four years of the optometry college. This option also has pre-requisites described on the school’s webpage. Course curricula is posted at Michigan College of Optometry Courses.
The Michigan College of Optometry began classes in 1975, as part of Ferris State University. Ferris State University was founded in 1884 and is located in Big Rapids, Michigan and currently has an enrollment in excess of 14,000 students. The university has been recognized by US News and World Report as #74 in its Regional Universities, #42 Best School for Veterans and #18 in its Top Public Schools rankings. In addition to the Michigan College of Optometry’s accreditation, Ferris State University holds accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.
Program Length: 171 Credit Hours
Estimated Tuition Cost: $112,176 (Resident); $168,264 (Non Resident)
6. Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry
This Doctor of Optometry program of Nova Southeastern University College of Optometry, this degree is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) and located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Studies include the benchmark optometry studies in Ocular Anatomy, General Neuroanatomy, Visual Optics, Optical Pharmacology, Ocular and Systemic Eye Disease, etc. Fourth year students will participate in Clinical Externships in Primary Care, Pediatric and Binocular Vision, Medical and Surgical Care Clinical Externship, among others.
Nova Southeastern University was established in 1964 and has been cited by US News and World Report as #214 in its National Universities ranking and the Carnegie Foundation classified NSU as a university with “high research activities. NSU has also been named one of the 50 universities, nationwide, for the Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification. NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS-COC).
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $120,960 (Resident); $135,888 (Non Resident)
7. Midwestern University
The Chicago College of Optometry is part of Midwestern University and offers a Doctor of Optometry degree. The college holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA) and Midwestern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Midwestern University has been recognized by US News and World Report. Midwestern has two campuses for its optometry colleges, one in Downers Grove, Illinois and Glendale, Arizona; and, was founded in 1900 with the Chicago College of Optometry opening in 1986 and the Arizona College established in 1995.
General curriculum offerings are: basic, behavioral, and clinical sciences,
pre-clinical simulation labs, licensing board simulation rooms, community clinical rotations, National Boards preparation courses, optometry business management courses, local and national external rotation sites, etc. An undergraduate degree is required and the optometry program prerequisites are required in biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, psychology, among others.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $153,048 (Arizona College); $158,880 (Chicago College)
8. Salus University Pennsylvania College of Optometry
Beginning in 1919, the Pennsylvania College Optometry was the founding college of present day Salus University. Located in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania the college is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association (AOA). The college was the first to utilize eximer laser in research and training. There are two options for obtaining this Doctor of Optometry through either the Tradition Program or the Accelerated Scholars Program.
The Traditional Program features small group learning experiences, traditional academic breaks and lab experiences. The Accelerated Scholars Program differs primarily from the Traditional Program in the length of study (36 months). Both programs follow a curriculum that includes: molecular and cellular processes, integrative ocular and systemic disease, integrative neuro-visual sciences, principles and practice of optometric medicine. Clinical externships are required.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $154,560 (Traditional Program); $158,000 (Scholars Program)
9. New England College of Optometry
The New England College of Optometry began in 1894 as the Klein School of Optics and the modern college holds accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. This Doctor of Optometry degree requires prerequisites in biology, chemistry, physics, microbiology, psychology and English among others.
Coursework is provided through four departments, Vision Science, Biomedical Science and Disease, Primary Care, and Specialty and Advanced Care and Clinical Education. Topics covered include: vision health, principles and practices of optometry, neuroanatomy, ocular diseases, ocular pharmacology, etc. and clinical experiences in the fourth year in primary, advanced and specialty care rotations. The New England College of Optometry also offers dual degree programs in OD/MS and OD/PhD options.
Program Length: 4 Years
Estimated Tuition Cost: $160,148
10. Illinois College of Optometry
Founded in 1872, this school holds professional accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Optometric Education of the American Optometric Association and offers a Doctor of Optometry degree. A four year program, students will study anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry; as well, as courses in visual and physical optics, vision science, general optical pharmacology, patient care and clinical experiences in internships/externships.
A private school, the Illinois College of Optometry admits over 150 students per year and is the largest optometry school in the U.S. This degree focuses on Basic Health & Vision Science (BVS), Primary Optometric Practice (POP), Specialty Optometric Practice (SOP), Ocular Disease (OCD), Patient Care (PCE) and Practice Management Ethics (PME).
Program Length:
Estimated Tuition Cost: $170,995