by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 23 U.S. colleges awarded 407 degrees and certificates in Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician. Associate degrees are the most popular award, at 61% of graduates. College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $35,222 one year after completing, rising to $46,342 after four years.
A degree in Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician explores Opticianry/ophthalmic Dispensing Optician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Adapt And Fit Corrective Eyewear, Including Eyeglasses And Contact Lenses, As Prescribed By Ophthalmologists Or Optometrists; To Assist Patients In Selecting Appropriate Frames; And To Prepare Work Orders For Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians. Includes Instruction In Geometrical Optics, Ophthalmic Optics, Anatomy Of The Eye, Optical Instrumentation, Use And Maintenance Of Adjustment And Cleaning Tools, Prescription Interpretation, Contact Lens Adaptation And Fitting, Prosthesis Fitting, Facial And Eye Measuring, Pathology Identification, Record-Keeping, And Patient And Business Administrative Tasks.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician is a widely-pursued major, with 407 degrees awarded annually. 23 colleges award opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 44.
By level, the 407 awards include 103 certificates, 250 associate degrees and 54 master’s degrees.
Women earned 74% of opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degrees and certificates in the latest year (302 of 407). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are Hispanic or Latino (172) and White (106), and international students earned 2.
College Factual ranks 15 schools in its 2027 Best Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Schools ranking, including 13 for associate degrees. It also ranks opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician schools within 7 states. In all, 23 colleges offer opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician credential is the associate degree: 250 of the 407 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, Sales and Marketing and Mathematics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Near Vision.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 103 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 250 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 54 |
High school diploma or equivalent is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, at 45.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma or equivalent | 45.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 25% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 25% |
| Some college courses | 4.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician, with an average median salary of $127,783; the strongest outlook belongs to Opticians, Dispensing, at 1.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Dispensing Optician, Eyewear Specialist, Contact Lens Fitter and Optical Sales Associate.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, at 1,161,806.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Opticians, Dispensing | 1,161,806 | 1.8% |
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician graduates earn a median $35,222 one year after completing their program, $46,342 after four years and $39,453 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $35,222 |
| 4 years | $46,342 |
| 5 years | $39,453 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to opticianry/ophthalmic dispensing optician, with a median salary of $127,783.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Opticians, Dispensing | $127,783 |
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing Optician has 4 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 404 degrees a year; the largest are Optometric Technician/Assistant (196), Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist (172) and Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions, Other (34). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Optometric Technician/Assistant | 196 |
| Ophthalmic Technician/Technologist | 172 |
| Ophthalmic and Optometric Support Services and Allied Professions, Other | 34 |
| Orthoptics/Orthoptist | 2 |
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