Optometry Schools

    Doctor of Optometry (DO)

    In United States, there are 23 optometry schools offering Doctor of Optometry (DO) degree accredited by Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE).
    To apply to optometry schools to earn Doctor of Optometry (DO), the applicants are required to use the Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS). During the process on OptomCAS, the applicants will submit the required components including transcripts, letters of recommendation, and test scores. Because some schools also require to submit the components to the school directly, you need to check school's admission page carefully.
    To eligible to admit to optometry schools, applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours (or 135 quarter hours) in accredited colleges or universities. It is equivalent of three(3) years of undergraduate study, but accepted students generally completed BS degree.
    Before applying, you should take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT) which is mostly required by all optometry schools. Recently, many schools consider and accept the other types of test including GRE, MCAT, DAT, and PCAT scores, but still majority is on OAT score.
    The common requirements to apply to optometry schools are as following.
    • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) Application
    • Completed undergraduate study (or 90 semester hours) at an accredited college or universities.
    • Undergraduate GPA 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale.
    • No more than 50 semester hours at a two-years college.
    • Complete prerequisite courses. Some science courses require laboratory experiments.
    • Take Optometry Admission Test (OAT) or alternative test (GRE, MCAT, DAT, and/or PCAT)

    General Academic Requirements

    The common requirements to apply to optometry schools are as following.
    • Optometry Centralized Application Service (OptomCAS) Application
    • Completed undergraduate study (or 90 semester hours) at an accredited college or universities.
    • Undergraduate GPA 2.75 or above on a 4.0 scale.
    • No more than 50 semester hours at a two-years college.
    • Complete prerequisite courses. Some science courses require laboratory experiments.
    • Take Optometry Admission Test (OAT) or alternative test (GRE, MCAT, DAT, and/or PCAT)
    In addition to academic requirements and the prerequisite course work, following components are commonly required for optometry school applicants.
    • Undergraduate transcripts and optionally graduate transcripts
    • Letters of Recommendation / Evaluation from optometrist, professor and/or your choice
    • Essay Samples or Personal Statements
    • Shadowing and Experiences
    • Interview

    2024 Average Tuition of Optometry Program

    The 2024 average tuition & fees of Optometry program is $37,367 in-state students and $44,288 for out-of-state students. The following table shows the Optometry tuition & fees over last 5 years.
    Optometry Average Tuition & Fees Changes
    YearIn-StateOut-of-State
    2019$34,351$40,609
    2020$35,642$41,987
    2021$36,285$42,592
    2022$36,771$43,143
    2023$37,367$44,288

    Average GPA and OAT (Academic) Score

    For entering students at Optometry schools last year, the average GPA was 3.51. The average OAT (Academic) was 323 and the average OAT (Science) was 315.
    The following table summarizes the average GPA and OAT (Academic) score at Optometry schools.
    Optometry Average GPA and OAT (Academic) scores
    GPA3.51
    OAT (Academic)323
    OAT (Science)315

    List of Optometry Schools

    The following table lists the optometry schools with tuition & admission information. 5 out of 23 schools have MD programs. You can view the detailed admission information at each school's page.
    Optometry Schools 2024 Tuition & Fees Comparison Table
    SchoolStateOptometry TuitionMD TuitionFoundedApplication FeeGPAOAT (Academic)OAT (Science)
    UAB School of OptometryPublicBirmingham, ALAL$54,011 ($28,970) $66,178 ($34,662) - $753.63 321311
    Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry & Vision Science (Berkeley Optometry)PublicBerkeley, CACA$48,743 ($36,498) $51,207 ($38,962) - $663.57 340340
    Western University of Health Sciences College of OptometryPrivatePomona, CACA$42,620 N/A - -3.20 309297
    Marshall B Ketchum UniversityPrivateFullerton, CACA$48,433 N/A - $753.50 341340
    Nova Southeastern UniversityPrivateFort Lauderdale, FLFL$41,774 $67,492 - $503.51 329325
    Chicago College of OptometryPrivateDowners Grove, ILIL$46,767 N/A - -3.41 300287
    Illinois College of OptometryPrivateChicago, ILIL$46,100 N/A - -3.48 319311
    Indiana University School of OptometryPublicBloomington, ININ$45,249 ($32,713) N/A - $703.75 --
    Kentucky College of OptometryPrivatePikeville, KYKY$44,999 N/A - -3.30 301284
    MCPHS UniversityPrivateBoston, MAMA$48,270 N/A - -3.40 313300
    New England College of OptometryPrivateBoston, MAMA$48,198 N/A - $303.47 331327
    Michigan College of OptometryPublicBig Rapids, MIMI$33,521 ($33,521) N/A - -3.69 332323
    University of Missouri-St Louis College of OptometryPublicSaint Louis, MOMO$43,849 ($26,562) N/A - $503.51 316303
    SUNY College of OptometryPublicNew York, NYNY$51,740 ($30,440) N/A - $403.60 344341
    Ohio State University College of OptometryPublicColumbus, OHOH$50,687 ($29,631) $56,001 ($31,081) - $603.68 342339
    OKLAHOMA COLLEGE OF OPTOMETRYPublicTahlequah, OKOK$41,822 ($21,772) N/A - $753.70 316306
    Pacific University College of OptometryPrivateForest Grove, OROR$46,925 N/A - -3.55 328318
    Pennsylvania College of OptometryPrivateElkins Park, PAPA$46,305 N/A - -3.36 300280
    Southern College of OptometryPrivateMemphis, TNTN$40,358 N/A - $503.69 335327
    University of Houston College of OptometryPublicHouston, TXTX$29,252 ($17,060) $37,268 ($24,168) - $503.64 340338
    Rosenberg School of OptometryPrivateSan Antonio, TXTX$41,396 N/A - -3.42 314303
    Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of OptometryPrivateBayamon, PRPR$30,640 N/A - -3.18 335327
    Arizona College of OptometryPrivateGlendale, AZAZ$46,963 N/A - -3.60 307294