by our College Data Analytics TeamOptometry programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their optometry programs.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 21 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for optometry students pursuing a degree.
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The optometry program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we built our Best Optometry Schools rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall optometry education, regardless of degree level.
No school ranked higher than Southern College Of Optometry this year for optometry. Set in the city of Memphis, Southern College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 126 optometry degrees were awarded at Southern College Of Optometry in the most recent year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $106,728 in their early career. More information about a degree in optometry from Southern College Of Optometry
A rank of #2 makes Drexel University one of the top schools for optometry. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 132 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Drexel University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Drexel University earn around $67,556 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,838. See the full optometry program report for Drexel University
A rank of #3 makes Midwestern University Glendale one of the top schools for optometry. Midwestern University Glendale is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glendale. Midwestern University Glendale awarded about 63 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $98,281 in their early career. Get the full optometry details for Midwestern University Glendale
Indiana University Bloomington is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in optometry, landing the #4 spot this year. Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public school located in the city of Bloomington. The six-year graduation rate is 80%. About 77 optometry degrees were awarded at Indiana University Bloomington in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $109,361. Indiana University Bloomington graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. See the full optometry program report for Indiana University Bloomington
A rank of #5 makes Midwestern University Downers Grove one of the top schools for optometry. Midwestern University Downers Grove is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Downers Grove. There were roughly 57 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Midwestern University Downers Grove in the most recent data year. Optometry graduates of Midwestern University Downers Grove earn a median of $117,219 early in their careers. Get the full optometry details for Midwestern University Downers Grove
Pacific University came in at #6 for optometry this year. Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Forest Grove. Pacific University graduates 67% of students within six years. About 73 optometry degrees were awarded at Pacific University in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of Pacific University earn a median of $107,293 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,170 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for Pacific University
Nova Southeastern University came in at #7 for optometry this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Fort Lauderdale. Nova Southeastern University graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 97 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Nova Southeastern University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Nova Southeastern University earn around $88,293 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,021 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for Nova Southeastern University
Illinois College Of Optometry came in at #8 for optometry this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 98 optometry degrees were awarded at Illinois College Of Optometry in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Illinois College Of Optometry generally make around $105,772. See the full optometry program report for Illinois College Of Optometry
Ohio State University Main Campus earned the #9 position for optometry this year. Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 60 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Ohio State University Main Campus generally make around $95,369. Students borrow a median of $22,053 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
University Of California Berkeley came in at #10 for optometry this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Berkeley. University Of California Berkeley graduates 93% of students within six years. University Of California Berkeley awarded about 76 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from University Of California Berkeley generally make around $88,760. University Of California Berkeley graduates carry a median of $14,238 in student loans. Read more about the optometry program at University Of California Berkeley
University Of Houston ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best optometry schools. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. University Of Houston awarded about 99 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $104,352 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete this degree. Get the full optometry details for University Of Houston
Pikeville College came in at #12 for optometry this year. Pikeville College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Pikeville. Pikeville College graduates 42% of students within six years. Pikeville College awarded about 55 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Pikeville College generally make around $120,196. Pikeville College graduates carry a median of $22,966 in student loans. More information about a degree in optometry from Pikeville College
Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences landed the #13 spot for optometry this year. Set in the city of Boston, Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 61% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 51 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences earn around $95,374 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,056 to complete this degree. Get the full optometry details for Massachusetts College Of Pharmacy And Health Sciences
Ferris State University came in at #14 for optometry this year. Ferris State University is a large public school located in the town of Big Rapids. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 38 optometry degrees were awarded at Ferris State University in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of Ferris State University earn a median of $113,016 early in their careers. Ferris State University graduates carry a median of $23,562 in student loans. Get the full optometry details for Ferris State University
University Of Alabama At Birmingham earned the #15 position for optometry this year. University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public school located in the city of Birmingham. About 64% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 56 optometry students who graduated with this degree at University Of Alabama At Birmingham in the most recent data year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $97,611 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for University Of Alabama At Birmingham
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #16 position for optometry this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of Missouri St Louis in the most recent year. Graduates of the optometry program make about $97,440 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete this degree. Read more about the optometry program at University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of The Incarnate Word placed #17 among the best optometry schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Antonio. University Of The Incarnate Word graduates 50% of students within six years. About 66 optometry degrees were awarded at University Of The Incarnate Word in the most recent year. Students who receive their optometry degree from University Of The Incarnate Word earn around $96,994 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $28,028 to complete this degree. See the full optometry program report for University Of The Incarnate Word
Western University Of Health Sciences came in at #18 for optometry this year. Located in the suburb of Pomona, Western University Of Health Sciences is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Western University Of Health Sciences awarded about 61 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Western University Of Health Sciences generally make around $84,910. Get the full optometry details for Western University Of Health Sciences
Southern California College Of Optometry placed #19 among the best optometry schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, Southern California College Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 90 optometry students who graduated with this degree at Southern California College Of Optometry in the most recent data year. Students who receive their optometry degree from Southern California College Of Optometry earn around $81,645 in the first couple years of their career. More information about a degree in optometry from Southern California College Of Optometry
Northeastern State University placed #20 among the best optometry schools. Set in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 35%. Northeastern State University awarded about 28 optometry degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, optometry degree recipients from Northeastern State University generally make around $106,097. Typical student debt for the program is $23,465. Get the full optometry details for Northeastern State University
Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry landed the #21 spot for optometry this year. Located in the city of Bayamon, Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry is a small private not-for-profit university. About 15 optometry degrees were awarded at Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry in the most recent year. Optometry graduates of Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry earn a median of $100,056 early in their careers. Get the full optometry details for Inter American University Of Puerto Rico School Of Optometry
View the Best Optometry Schools for a specific region near you.
Explore other rankings in majors related to Optometry. See all related rankings.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Optometry | 1,461 |
View All Optometry Concentrations >
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 21 schools evaluated.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
