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2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

13 Ranked Colleges
1,666 Degrees Awarded
$23,000 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

Optometry is the 310th most popular major in the country with 1,666 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 1,666 optometry graduates with average earnings and debt of $72,680 and $116,043 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking analyzed 13 colleges that offered a degree in optometry. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great optometry programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the optometry program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k” list to help you make the college decision.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k

The colleges and universities below are the best for doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k.

Top 13 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Optometry (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#9 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, Indiana University - Bloomington landed the #1 spot on the list. Indiana University - Bloomington is a public institution located in Bloomington, Indiana. The school has a large population, and it awarded 68 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

IU Bloomington also took the #9 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Indiana University - Bloomington are $33,338.

Read more about Optometry at Indiana University - Bloomington

#2 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of California - Berkeley landed the #2 spot on the list. University of California - Berkeley is a large school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 66 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at University of California - Berkeley

#3

Ferris State University

Big Rapids, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Ferris State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Ferris State University is a fairly large school located in Big Rapids, Michigan that handed out 33 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, Ferris has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ferris State University are $7,908, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Optometry at Ferris State University

#12 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Ohio State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k. Columbus, Ohio is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 63 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Ohio State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Ohio State University - Main Campus are $37,141, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Ohio State Optometry Report

#5

University of Houston

Houston, Texas
#13 in overall quality

Out of the 13 schools in the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Houston landed the #5 spot on the list. University of Houston is located in Houston, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 95 doctorate’s optometry degrees to qualified students.

UH not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Optometry at UH

#6

Northeastern State University

Tahlequah, Oklahoma
#19 in overall quality

Northeastern State University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Northeastern State University is a medium-sized school located in Tahlequah, Oklahoma that handed out 28 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, NSU has also earned the #19 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at NSU are $10,600, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Optometry at NSU

#7

University of Missouri - St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#18 in overall quality

University of Missouri - St Louis did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #7. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

UMSL also made our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #18. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UMSL are $30,154.

Full UMSL Optometry Report

#8

University of Pikeville

Pikeville, Kentucky
#20 in overall quality

With a ranking of #8, University of Pikeville did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Pikeville, Kentucky, this small private not-for-profit school awarded 36 degrees to qualified doctorate’s optometry students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our doctor’s degree optometry students whose families make $0-$30k list, UPIKE has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UPIKE are $8,100, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Optometry at University of Pikeville

#14 in overall quality

University of Alabama at Birmingham landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out doctorate’s optometry degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UAB, the school also landed the #14 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Alabama at Birmingham are $19,188, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Alabama at Birmingham Optometry Report

#10

Pacific University

Forest Grove, Oregon
#7 in overall quality

Pacific University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Forest Grove, Oregon. The school has a small population, and it awarded 91 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #7 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific University are $35,325, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Optometry at Pacific

#11

University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, Texas
#17 in overall quality

University of the Incarnate Word did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. This medium-sized school is located in San Antonio, Texas, and it awarded 59 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UIW, the school also landed the #17 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of the Incarnate Word are $19,242, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UIW Optometry Report

#12

Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, Florida
#15 in overall quality

Nova Southeastern University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #12. This large school is located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and it awarded 87 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at NUS Florida, the school also landed the #15 spot in our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Nova Southeastern University are $22,242, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Optometry at NUS Florida

#11 in overall quality

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Optometry Schools for a Doctorate For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #13. Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a medium-sized school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 50 doctorate’s optometry degrees in 2019-2020.

MCPHS University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Optometry Doctor’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences are $23,280.

Read full report on Optometry at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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